Gupta M Daivik, Gosala Radha, Ramadoss Ramya
Department of Oral Biology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2025 Sep-Oct;15(5):1097-1102. doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.07.014. Epub 2025 Jul 24.
Dentine demineralization is a key factor in dental caries and structural deterioration, necessitating the development of effective restorative approaches. Hydroxyapatite (HA) and zirconia (Zr) are widely used in dentistry due to their biocompatibility and mechanical strength; however, their individual remineralization potential is limited by poor surface characteristics. Polyacrylic acid (PAA), a biocompatible polymer, can be incorporated as a surface modifier to enhance the remineralization ability and interfacial properties of HA-Zr based restorative materials.
In this study, PAA modified hydroxyapatite-zirconia (HA-Zr) nanocomposite (HA-Zr-PAA) was synthesized and characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed to confirm phase purity and crystallite size. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used for functional group analysis. Vickers microhardness testing evaluated mechanical properties, while surface roughness and wettability studies assessed the surface characteristics relevant to remineralization.
XRD confirmed phase pure HA with an average crystallite size of 34.11 nm and the presence of ZrO peaks, indicating successful zirconia incorporation without secondary phases. FTIR analysis revealed the integration of HA, Zr, and PAA functional groups. Vickers microhardness improved from 224.45 MPa for HA to 285.67 MPa for HA-Zr-PAA, indicating enhanced mechanical strength. Surface roughness and wettability studies demonstrated increased surface roughness and hydrophilicity, promoting bioactive ion remineralization on dentine surfaces.
These integrated structural, mechanical, and surface modifications demonstrate that HA-Zr-PAA is a promising candidate for dentine remineralization and durable restorative dental applications.
牙本质脱矿是龋齿和结构破坏的关键因素，因此需要开发有效的修复方法。羟基磷灰石（HA）和氧化锆（Zr）因其生物相容性和机械强度而在牙科领域广泛应用；然而，它们各自的再矿化潜力受到表面特性不佳的限制。聚丙烯酸（PAA）是一种生物相容性聚合物，可作为表面改性剂加入，以增强基于HA-Zr的修复材料的再矿化能力和界面性能。
在本研究中，合成并表征了PAA改性的羟基磷灰石-氧化锆（HA-Zr）纳米复合材料（HA-Zr-PAA）。进行X射线衍射（XRD）分析以确认相纯度和微晶尺寸。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）进行官能团分析。维氏显微硬度测试评估机械性能，而表面粗糙度和润湿性研究则评估与再矿化相关的表面特性。
XRD确认了相纯的HA，平均微晶尺寸为34.11 nm，并存在ZrO峰，表明成功掺入了氧化锆且无第二相。FTIR分析揭示了HA、Zr和PAA官能团的整合。维氏显微硬度从HA的224.45 MPa提高到HA-Zr-PAA的285.67 MPa，表明机械强度增强。表面粗糙度和润湿性研究表明表面粗糙度和亲水性增加，促进了牙本质表面的生物活性离子再矿化。
这些综合的结构、机械和表面改性表明，HA-Zr-PAA是牙本质再矿化和持久牙科修复应用的有前途的候选材料。
