Bio-based Non-estrogenic Dimethacrylate Dental Composite from Cloves.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor found in many consumer products, leading to regulatory restrictions.
• There is a growing need for sustainable, high-performance, and low-toxicity materials derived from renewable biomass sources.
• Developing alternatives to BPA in dental materials is crucial for reducing human exposure and promoting environmental sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel bio-based dimethacrylate monomers, BEF-EA and BEF-GMA, from eugenol.
• To evaluate the estrogenic activity of the derived bio-based bisphenol (BEF) and compare it with commercial bisphenols.
• To prepare and characterize visible light-curing dental materials using these bio-based monomers and assess their properties.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of dimethacrylate monomers (BEF-EA and BEF-GMA) from eugenol.
• Evaluation of estrogenic activity of the bio-based bisphenol (BEF).
• Photopolymerization of monomers with TEGDMA to create bio-based resins and composites.
• Systematic investigation of material properties including viscosity, polymerization shrinkage, photopolymerization reactivity, and mechanical strength.

Main Results:

• The synthesized bio-based monomers (BEF-GMA and BEF-EA) are nonestrogenic and exhibit low viscosity.
• Photopolymerized materials showed high reactivity (>50% in 60s) and low volumetric shrinkage (approx. 8.5%).
• Mechanical properties, including fracture energy (>5.5 N mm) and flexural strength (87-91 MPa), were comparable or superior to commercial Bis-GMA, with adequate properties for composites.

Conclusions:

• Eugenol-based dimethacrylate monomers offer a sustainable and biocompatible alternative to BPA in dental materials.
• These bio-based materials demonstrate excellent performance characteristics suitable for dental applications.
• The development supports the creation of green, sustainable, and BPA-free dental materials.