Effect of poly (γ-glutamic acid)/tricalcium phosphate (γ-PGA/TCP) composite for dentin remineralization in vitro

The poly (γ-glutamic acid)/tricalcium phosphate (γ-PGA/TCP) composite was fabricated as a novel biomineralization material function in preventing caries. Demineralized bovine dentin specimens were prepared and randomly divided into 5 groups (i. α-TCP, ⅱ. γ-PGA, ⅲ. γ-PGA/TCP, ⅳ. CPP-ACP, and ⅴ. deionized water) and subjected to 14 days of pH cycling. Remineralization ability was evaluated by lesion depth, mineral loss and microhardness. The morphology of dentin depositions was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM), the crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the wettability was tested by contact angle measurements. ANOVA revealed specimens treated by γ-PGA/TCP presented the statistically least lesion depth (p<0.01) and mineral loss (p<0.001), and the highest hardness (p<0.001). SEM revealed prominent intra- and inter-tubular precipitates in both γ-PGA and γ-PGA/TCP groups. The XRD patterns of the deposition structures in all groups were similar to those of sound dentin, and the contact angle of water decreased after γ-PGA/TCP treatment.