Journal of Functional Biomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dental materials have undergone profound advances in recent years. In terms of prevention, restoration, and endodontics, functional materials play an important role in treatment planning and outcomes.

Recently, functional materials have been used in various applications within the biomedical field and are expected to be useful in dentistry as well.

Since enamel and dentin do not have regenerative capabilities, decaying tissue must be restored with direct and indirect restorative materials such as resin composites, glass ionomers, ceramic-based materials, alloys, and ceramics. Some of these materials may have functional properties. In particular, functional materials can be utilized to promote the survivability and longevity of restorations due to their adaptation and interaction with dental tissues.

Their capabilities include the inhibition of biofilm formation, the promotion of remineralization, the inhibition of collagen enzymatic degradation, adaptability and biocompatibility without the side effects of toxic therapeutic agents, and the reinforcement of prosthetic materials.

This Special Issue of the Journal of Functional Biomaterials highlights the latest research on the development of novel functional materials and advanced applications of restorative dental materials.

Dr. Noriko Hiraishi
Dr. James Kit-Hon Tsoi
Guest Editors

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (1 paper)

Research

14 pages, 17634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Multi-Functional Bio-Safe Dental Resin Composites with Mineralization and Anti-Biofilm Properties

by Jiaojiao Yun, Michael F. Burrow, Jukka P. Matinlinna, Hao Ding, Sin Man (Rosalind) Chan, James K. H. Tsoi and Yan Wang

J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(5), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15050120 - 30 Apr 2024

Abstract

This study aims to develop multi-functional bio-safe dental resin composites with capabilities for mineralization, high in vitro biocompatibility, and anti-biofilm properties. To address this issue, experimental resin composites consisting of UDMA/TEGDMA-based dental resins and low quantities (1.9, 3.8, and 7.7 vol%) of 45S5 bioactive glass (BAG) particles were developed. To evaluate cellular responses of resin composites, MC3T3-E1 cells were (1) exposed to the original composites extracts, (2) cultured directly on the freshly cured resin composites, or (3) cultured on preconditioned composites that have been soaked in deionized water (DI water), a cell culture medium (MEM), or a simple HEPES-containing artificial remineralization promotion (SHARP) solution for 14 days. Cell adhesion, cell viability, and cell differentiation were, respectively, assessed. In addition, the anti-biofilm properties of BAG-loaded resin composites regarding bacterial viability, biofilm thickness, and biofilm morphology, were assessed for the first time. In vitro biological results demonstrated that cell metabolic activity and ALP expression were significantly diminished when subjected to composite extracts or direct contact with the resin composites containing BAG fillers. However, after the preconditioning treatments in MEM and SHARP solutions, the biomimetic calcium phosphate minerals on 7.7 vol% BAG-loaded composites revealed unimpaired or even better cellular processes, including cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and early cell differentiation. Furthermore, resin composites with 1.9, 3.8, and 7.7 vol% BAG could not only reduce cell viability in S. mutans biofilm on the composite surface but also reduce the biofilm thickness and bacterial aggregations. This phenomenon was more evident in BAG7.7 due to the high ionic osmotic pressure and alkaline microenvironment caused by BAG dissolution. This study concludes that multi-functional bio-safe resin composites with mineralization and anti-biofilm properties can be achieved by adding low quantities of BAG into the resin system, which offers promising abilities to mineralize as well as prevent caries without sacrificing biological activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Materials for Dental Restorations—Volume II)

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