Novel pulp capping material based on sodium trimetaphosphate: synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial...

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology in Dentistry

Background:

• Sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) is utilized in dental cements.
• Microparticles (mTMP) and nanoparticles (nTMP) of TMP offer distinct properties.
• Zirconium oxide (ZrO2), chitosan, and titanium oxide (TiO2) are common additives in dental materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the mechanical, physicochemical, and antimicrobial characteristics of four TMP-based cement formulations.
• To investigate the influence of micro- and nanoparticle sizes of TMP, along with TiO2 or chitosan, on cement properties.
• To assess the potential of these novel cement formulations as alternatives for pulp protection.

Main Methods:

• Four experimental cement groups were formulated: two with mTMP and two with nTMP, incorporating ZrO2 and either chitosan or TiO2 nanoparticles.
• Evaluation of key properties including setting time, compression resistance, and radiopacity.
• Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the agar diffusion test against key oral pathogens (S. mutans, L. casei, A. israelii, C. albicans, E. faecalis).

Main Results:

• Nanoparticle sodium trimetaphosphate (nTMP) cements demonstrated significantly shorter setting times and superior compression resistance compared to microparticle formulations.
• Cements incorporating titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles exhibited enhanced radiopacity in both nTMP and mTMP groups.
• All tested cement formulations displayed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei.

Conclusions:

• Dental cements formulated with nTMP offer improved setting characteristics and mechanical strength.
• The inclusion of TiO2 nanoparticles enhances radiopacity and contributes to antimicrobial efficacy.
• A cement combining nTMP, ZrO2, and TiO2 shows promise as an advanced biomaterial for safeguarding the dental pulp complex.