Preparation and characterization of mesoporous core-shell bioactive glass-based cements for direct pulp capping

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Regenerative Dentistry

Background:

• Direct pulp capping is vital for preserving dental pulp vitality.
• Current materials like Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) have limitations including long setting times and handling difficulties.
• Bioactive Glass (BG) exhibits osteo-inductive properties beneficial for tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel bioactive glass (BG)-based cement (BG-x/SA) for direct pulp capping applications.
• To address the limitations of existing pulp capping materials.
• To optimize the formulation of BG-based cement for improved clinical performance.

Main Methods:

• Development of BG microspheres (BG-x) with a core-shell structure (BG core, hydroxyapatite shell) via in-situ transformation.
• Formulation of a novel BG-based cement (BG-x/SA) using BG microspheres and sodium alginate solution.
• Evaluation of cement properties, including setting time, anti-washout ability, pH, dentin formation, and antibacterial effects, comparing BG-6/SA with MTA.

Main Results:

• The optimal formulation identified was BG-6/SA cement.
• BG-6/SA cement demonstrated a significantly shorter setting time compared to MTA.
• The novel cement exhibited good anti-washout performance, a mildly alkaline pH, promoted dentin formation, and possessed antibacterial properties.

Conclusions:

• BG-6/SA cement presents a promising alternative to MTA for direct pulp capping.
• The developed material overcomes key limitations of MTA, offering improved handling and faster setting.
• BG-6/SA cement shows significant potential for enhancing dental pulp vitality and repair.