Preparation and evaluation of a BisGMA-free dental composite resin based on a novel trimethacrylate monomer

Abstract

Objective: The use of the BisGMA as base monomer in dental composites has been questioned because of bisphenol A (BPA) is used as raw material in its synthesis, and BPA possess estrogenic potential associated to several health problems. This study describes the synthesis of the trimethacrylate tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane triglycidyl methacrylate (TTM) monomer and evaluate its effect when used as base monomer in the formulation of experimental photopolymerizable composite resins.

Methods: The TTM monomer was synthesized by a nucleophilic acyl substitution. Its chemical structure was confirmed via ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Experimental composite resins were formulated by mixing TTM, triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and inorganic fillers. A BisGMA/TEGDMA based composite resin was prepared and used as control to compare several physicochemical properties. Cell viability assay was used for cytotoxicity evaluation.

Results: TTM was successfully synthesized with quantitative yields. The results showed that the TTM-based composite resin had similar values of flexural strength, elastic modulus, degree of conversion and polymerization shrinkage than the control (p > 0.05). Water sorption and solubility were statistically significantly higher than the control (p < 0.05), however they complied the requirements stablished by the ISO 4049. Finally, this study shows there were no statistically significant differences for the biocompatibility outcomes (p = 0.345).

Significance: TTM monomer could be potentially useful in the formulation of BisGMA free composite resins, which could mean to minimize the human exposure to BPA.

Keywords: BisGMA-free; Dental composite; Dental resins; Trimethacrylate monomer.