Dentine collagen cross-linking using tiopronin-protected Au/EDC nanoparticles formulations

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Demineralized dentin exhibits compromised mechanical properties and susceptibility to degradation.
• Effective collagen crosslinking is crucial for enhancing the durability and stability of dentin substrates.
• Gold nanoparticles offer unique properties for biomedical applications, including potential for crosslinking agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of EDC-assisted collagen crosslinking using tiopronin-protected gold (TPAu) nanoparticles on demineralized dentin.
• To evaluate the effect of different TPAu/EDC nanoparticle concentrations on crosslinking.
• To assess the impact of TPAu/EDC nanoparticles on the structural and mechanical properties of demineralized dentin.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and characterization of TPAu nanoparticles, including size, morphology, and Zeta potential.
• Preparation of TPAu/EDC nanoparticle formulations at TPAu/EDC ratios of 0.25:1 and 0.5:1.
• Treatment of demineralized dentin specimens with TPAu/EDC formulations, EDC alone, or left untreated (controls).
• Evaluation of dentin substrates using TEM, protease activity assays, hydroxyproline release, elastic modulus measurements, and Raman spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• TPAu nanoparticles formed nano-clusters with sizes ranging from 20-50 nm and exhibited a negative surface charge.
• TEM and SAXS confirmed the nanoparticle characteristics.
• TPAu/EDC nanoparticle formulations demonstrated superior dentin collagen crosslinking compared to EDC alone or untreated controls.
• A higher crosslinking effect was observed at the TPAu/EDC ratio of 0.5:1.

Conclusions:

• EDC-assisted crosslinking with TPAu nanoparticles significantly enhances demineralized dentin properties.
• The crosslinking efficacy is dependent on the TPAu/EDC ratio, with 0.5:1 showing superior results.
• This approach holds potential for improving biodegradation resistance, protease inhibition, and mechanical/structural stability of demineralized dentin.