Therapeutic polymers for dental adhesives: loading resins with bio-active components

Abstract

Objectives: Many recent adhesives on the market exhibit reasonable clinical performance. Future innovations in adhesive materials should therefore seek out novel properties rather than simply modifying existing technologies. It is proposed that adhesive materials that are "bio-active" could contribute to better prognosis of restorative treatments.

Methods: This review examines the recent approaches used to achieve therapeutic polymers for dental adhesives by incorporating bio-active components. A strategy to maintain adhesive restorations is the focus of this paper.

Results: Major trials on therapeutic dental adhesives have looked at adding antibacterial activities or remineralization effects. Applications of antibacterial resin monomers based on quaternary ammonium compounds have received much research attention, and the loading of nano-sized bioactive particles or multiple ion-releasing glass fillers have been perceived as advantageous since they are not expected to influence the mechanical properties of the carrier polymer.

Significance: The therapeutic polymer approaches described here have the potential to provide clinical benefits. However, not many technological applications in this category have been successfully commercialized. Clinical evidence as well as further advancement of these technologies can be a driving force to make these new types of materials clinically available.

Keywords: Adhesives; Antibacterial; Bio-active; Dental polymers; Nano-particle; QAC; Remineralization.

Fig. 1

QAC-based antibacterial monomer MDPB.

Fig. 2

Antimicrobial immobilized in a polymer network by copolymerization of the antibacterial monomer with conventional methacrylate monomers; contact inhibition of bacteria.

Fig. 3

QAC-based monomer DMAE-CB.

Fig. 4

QAC-based monomers with two polymerizable groups.

Fig. 5

QAC monomer with iodine as a counter ion.

Fig. 6

TEM image of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP) and silver nanoparticles (NAg) incorporated in the adhesive resin.

Fig. 7

Structure of the surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler.

Fig. 8

Concentration of ions released from conventional fluoroaluminosilicate glass of glass-ionomer cement (GIC filler) or S-PRG filler into distilled water after 24 h of immersion. Al, B, Na, P, Si, and Sr were detected by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and F⁻ was measured using a fluoride electrode.