Sub-Nanoscale Caffeic Acid-Functionalized TiO₂ Composite: Enhancing Mechanical Properties and Odontogenic...

Resin-based materials (RBMs) are widely applied in dentistry because they withstand the recurrent multi-dimensional force striking and the hydrolysis of teeth. Sub-nanoscale materials can enhance the mechanical strength and bioactivity of RBMs, but the effects are still limited and the mechanisms to enhance bioactivity remain unclear. Here, a TiO₂-based sub-nanocomposite modified with caffeic acid (CA) to enhance mechanical robustness, structural stability, and bioactivity of RBMs is reported. This sub-nanocomposite can promote the proliferation, adhesion, and odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) through specifically up-regulating the expression of genes related to cell-matrix adhesion, integrin-mediated signaling pathways, and collagen fibril organization. These effects lead to a better capacity for up-regulating odontogenic differentiation of RBMs.