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Published on: September 18, 2018
Niobium pentoxide addition to 3D printing resin-based composites
Michaela Dos Santos Kehl1, Gabriela de Souza Balbinot1, Vicente Castelo Branco Leitune1
1Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Objective:
To formulate a 3D Resin Based Composites (RBCs) with Nb2O5 addition to induce mineral deposition, and evaluate its influence on mechanical, chemical, and biological properties.
Materials And Methods:
The experimental composite was formulated with UDMA (70 wt%), BisEMA (20 wt%), and TEGDMA (10 wt%). Barium glass (45 wt%) was used as an inorganic filler, and Nb2O5 was incorporated into the composites at 2 wt% and 5 wt%. 3D RBCs without Nb2O5 were used as a control. TPO (2 wt%) and diphenyl iodonium (1 wt%) were the photoinitiators. The degree of conversion, softening, and solvent, radiopacity, and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Flexural strength was tested following ISO 4049:2019. Mineral deposition was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy at the baseline and after 7, 14, and 28 days of artificial saliva immersion.
Results:
All materials showed a degree of conversion above 90%. Softening in solvent was not affected by Nb2O5 addition. Radiopacity results range from 0.9 mmAl to 1mmAl, with no influence of Nb2O5. Cytotoxicity assays showed cell viability above 70% for all compositions. Flexural strength exceeded 100 MPa for all groups, reaching the ISO 449:2019 requirements. Mineral deposition analysis showed increased phosphate ion deposition in the 3D RBC with 2% and 5% Nb2O5, from early timepoints when compared to the control group.
Conclusion:
The addition of up to 5 wt% of Nb2O5 on an experimental 3D RBC stimulated the mineral deposition of phosphate ions on the material surfaces without reducing the chemical, mechanical, and biological properties.
