Effect of adding ytterbium trifluoride filler particles on the mechanical, physicochemical and biological properties of methacrylate-based experimental resins for 3D printing.

OBJECTIVE

To formulate an experimental methacrylate-based photo-polymerizable resin for 3D printing with ytterbium trifluoride as filler and to evaluate the mechanical, physicochemical, and biological properties.

METHODS

Resin matrix was formulated with 60 wt% UDMA, 40 wt% TEGDMA, 1 wt% TPO, and 0.01 wt% BHT. Ytterbium Trifluoride was added in concentrations of 1 (G), 2 (G), 3 (G), 4 (G), and 5 (G) wt%. One group remained without filler addition as control (G). The samples were designed in 3D builder software and printed using a UV-DLP 3D printer. The samples were ultrasonicated with isopropanol and UV cured for 60 min. The resins were tested for degree of conversion (DC), flexural strength, Knoop microhardness, softening in solvent, radiopacity, colorimetric analysis, and cytotoxicity (MTT and SRB).

RESULTS

Post-polymerization increased the degree of conversion of all groups (p < 0.05). G showed the highest DC after post-polymerization. G showed no differences in flexural strength from the G and G (p > 0.05). All groups showed a hardness reduction after solvent immersion. No statistical difference was found in radiopacity, softening in solvent (ΔKHN%), colorimetric spectrophotometry, and cytotoxicity (MTT) (p > 0.05). G showed reduced cell viability for SRB assay (p < 0.05).

SIGNIFICANCE

It was possible to produce an experimental photo-polymerizable 3D printable resin with the addition of 2 % ytterbium trifluoride as filler without compromising the mechanical, physicochemical, and biological properties, comparable to the current provisional materials.