Microencapsulated Hydroxyapatite-TEGDMA Systems for Self-Healing in Dental Applications.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Controlled release systems are crucial for advanced dental materials.
• Microcapsules offer innovative strategies for delivering active agents in restorative dentistry.
• Hydroxyapatite (HAP) incorporation may enhance the properties of dental composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize microcapsules loaded with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and varying concentrations of HAP.
• To evaluate the structural integrity and healing agent distribution within HAP-TEGDMA microcapsules.
• To assess the potential of these microcapsules for dental applications like remineralization and microcrack repair.

Main Methods:

• Microcapsules synthesized via in situ polymerization in an oil-in-water emulsion.
• Morphological and nanostructural analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
• Chemical characterization with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), residual monomer quantification by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and internal structure assessment via Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

Main Results:

• Microcapsules with 20% HAP (M20) displayed superior structural organization and shell integrity.
• FTIR confirmed characteristic chemical bonds, HPLC quantified TEGDMA, and NMR verified the presence and distribution of the healing agent.
• SEM and AFM provided detailed insights into morphology, size, and nanostructure.

Conclusions:

• HAP-TEGDMA microcapsules show potential for controlled release applications in dentistry.
• The 20% HAP formulation exhibits promising characteristics for dental composite integration.
• These microcapsules could facilitate microcrack repair and promote dental tissue regeneration.