Enhancing glass ionomer cement features by using the calcium phosphate nanocomposite

This study showed the synthesis of Glass ionomer cements (GIC) modified with calcium phosphate nanoparticles (nCaP). The nCaP/GIC were submitted to mechanical compression and diametral tensile tests. The biocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Cytotoxicity and cell viability tests were performed on the human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)2,5-diphenyl- tetrazolium-bromide assay and LIVE/DEAD assays. Statistically significant differences were observed for mechanical properties (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0.001), nCaP/GIC showed higher resistance to compression and diametral traction. The SEM analyses revealed a uniform distribution nCaP in the ionomer matrix. The EDX and XRD results indicated that hydroxyapatite and calcium β-triphosphate phases. The FTIR spectra revealed the asymmetric band of ν3PO43- between 1100-1030cm-1 and the vibration band associated with ν1PO43- in 963cm-1 associated with nCaP. The nCaP/GIC presented response to adequate cell viability and non-cytotoxic behavior. Therefore, the new nCaP/GIC composite showed great mechanical properties, non-cytotoxic behavior, and adequate response to cell viability with promising dental applications.