Biosafety evaluation of BaSi₂O₂N₂:Eu²⁺/PDMS composite elastomers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mechanoluminescent (ML) materials are gaining attention for applications in stomatology due to their potential in stress sensing and energy conversion.
• Barium silicon oxynitride doped with Europium (BaSi₂O₂N₂:Eu²⁺) is a promising ML phosphor material.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize BaSi₂O₂N₂:Eu²⁺/Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ML composites.
• To evaluate the biosafety of these ML composites for potential dental applications.

Main Methods:

• Solid-state synthesis of BaSi₂O₂N₂:Eu²⁺ phosphors.
• Fabrication of BaSi₂O₂N₂:Eu²⁺/PDMS composites with varying mass fractions (10-50%).
• Biosafety assessment including CCK-8 assay, Calcein-AM/PI staining, hemolysis, oral mucosal irritation, and toxicity tests.

Main Results:

• BaSi₂O₂N₂:Eu²⁺/PDMS ML composites were successfully prepared.
• All tested mass fractions of the composites met existing biosafety standards.
• No significant cytotoxicity, hemolysis, or irritation was observed.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized BaSi₂O₂N₂:Eu²⁺/PDMS ML composites exhibit favorable biosafety profiles.
• These materials are suitable for further investigation in stomatological applications.
• The promising results pave the way for exploring other properties and applications in dentistry.