RESUMO
Dental adhesives hydrolyze in the mouth. This study investigated the water sorption (SOR), solubility (SOL) and cytotoxicity (CYTO) of experimental adhesives containing nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (N_TiO2). Specimens (n = 15/group [SOR, SOL]; n = 10/group [CYTO]) of unaltered Clearfil SE Protect (CSP), OptiBond Solo Plus (OSP), Adper Scotchbond (ASB) and experimental adhesives (OSP + 25% or 30% of N_TiO2) were fabricated, desiccated (37 °C) and tested for SOR and SOL according to ISO Specification 4049 (2009). CYTO specimens were UV-sterilized (8 J/cm2) and monomer extracted in growth medium (1, 3 or 7 days). Human pulp cells were isolated and seeded (0.5 × 104) for MTT assay. SOR and SOL data was analyzed using GLM and SNK (α = 0.05) and CYTO data was analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and SNK tests (α = 0.05). SOR and SOL values ranged from 25.80 µg/mm3 (30% N_TiO2) to 28.01 µg/mm3 (OSP) and 23.88 µg/mm3 (30% N_TiO2) to 25.39 µg/mm3 (25% N_TiO2). CYTO results indicated that pulp cells exposed to experimental materials displayed comparable viabilities (p > 0.05) to those of OSP. Experimental materials displayed comparable SOR, SOL and CYTO values (p > 0.05) when compared to unaltered materials. N_TiO2 incorporation have not adversely impacted SOR, SOL and CYTO properties of unaltered adhesives.