Vanadium-functionalized methyl methacrylate-based primer enhances self-curing and bonding of resin cement to...

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has gained considerable attention as a prosthetic material due to its favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Although methyl methacrylate (MMA)-based primers are commonly used for PEEK surface pretreatment in clinical practice, a reliable method for achieving consistent bonding performance has yet to be established. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating functional components, such as 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TPM), and vanadium, into an MMA-based primer on the bond strength, polymerization, and mechanical properties of dual-cure resin cements bonded to PEEK.

PEEK specimens were sandblasted with alumina and pretreated with MMA-based primers containing various concentrations of MDP, TPM, or vanadium. Three types of dual-cure resin cements (G-CEM ONE [GO], RelyX Unicem 2 [RU], and BeautiLink SA [BS]) were used. The shear bond strength, degree of conversion (DC), and Vickers hardness were measured.

PEEK showed no detectable light transmittance, resulting in a significantly lower DC of the underlying resin cement. Application of the MMA-based primer improved the shear bond strength to PEEK; however, incorporation of MDP or TPM did not enhance bonding. In contrast, vanadium incorporation significantly increased the shear bond strength, DC, and Vickers hardness of all the resin cements tested.

The incorporation of vanadium into MMA-based primers enhances both the adhesion and polymerization of dual-cure resin cements to PEEK, supporting its potential as a broadly applicable strategy for reliable bonding, particularly in clinical situations where light access is limited.