Effect of Reinforcement on the Flexural Properties of Injection-Molded Thermoplastic Denture Base Resins.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of reinforcement on the flexural properties of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins (polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate) were selected for this study, and a conventional heat-polymerized denture base resin (PMMA) was used as a control. Continuous unidirectional glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) and metal wire were used for reinforcement. Reinforced bar-shaped specimens (65 mm long, 10 mm wide, 3.3 mm high) were fabricated (n = 10). The flexural strength at the proportional limit (FS-PL) and the elastic modulus were measured using a three-point bending test. RESULTS: All the denture base material specimens reinforced with FRC possessed a significantly higher FS-PL compared to those without reinforcement. The FS-PL of the polycarbonate specimens reinforced with metal wire was significantly higher than that without reinforcement, and there was no significant difference in the FS-PL between the polycarbonate specimens reinforced with FRC and those with metal wire. The order of the elastic modulus according to the denture base material, arranged in terms of statistical significance, was as follows: PMMA (3.46 ± 0.53 GPa) > polycarbonate (2.69 ± 0.48 GPa) > polyester (2.00 ± 0.39 GPa) > polyamide (1.14 ± 0.35 GPa). The order of the elastic modulus according to the reinforcement, arranged in terms of statistical significance, was as follows: metal wire (2.74 ± 0.96 GPa) > FRC (2.40 ± 0.89 GPa) > no reinforcement (1.82 ± 0.83 GPa). CONCLUSION: Continuous unidirectional glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) reinforcement had a satisfactory reinforcing effect for the injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins.

Shear bond strength of ultraviolet-polymerized resin to 3D-printed denture materials: Effects of post-polymerization, surface treatments, and thermocycling.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the shear bond strength of ultraviolet (UV)-polymerized resin to 3D-printed denture materials, both with and without post-polymerization. Moreover, the effects of surface treatment and thermocycling on shear bond strength after post-polymerization were investigated. METHODS: Cylindrical 3D-printed denture bases and teeth specimens were prepared. The specimens are subjected to two tests. For Test 1, the specimens were bonded without any surface treatment or thermal stress for comparison with and without post-polymerization. In Test 2, specimens underwent five surface treatments: untreated (CON), ethyl acetate (EA), airborne particle abrasion (APA) with 50 µm (50-APA) and 110 µm alumina (110-APA), and tribochemical silica coating (TSC). A UV-polymerized resin was used for bonding. Half of the Test 2 specimens were thermocycled for 10,000 cycles. Shear bond strength was measured and analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Steel-Dwass tests (n = 8). RESULTS: In Test 1, post-polymerization significantly reduced shear bond strength of both 3D-printed denture materials (P < 0.05). No notable difference was observed between the denture teeth and the bases (P > 0.05). In Test 2, before thermocycling, the CON and EA groups exhibited low bond strengths, while the 50-APA, 110-APA, and TSC groups exhibited higher bond strengths. Thermocycling did not reduce bond strength in the latter groups, but significantly reduced bond strength in the EA group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Post-polymerization can significantly reduce the shear bond strength of 3D-printed denture materials. Surface treatments, particularly APA and TSC, maintained bond strength even after thermocycling.

Effects of ytterbium laser surface treatment on the bonding of two resin cements to zirconia.

Monolithic zirconia crowns bonded to zirconia abutments have become more commonly used in the construction of cement-retained implant superstructures. The present study aimed to examine the effects of laser surface treatments on the bond strength of two resin cements to zirconia. Three types of surfaces were examined: untreated, alumina blasted, and ytterbium laser treated; and two types of resin cements: 4-META/MMA-TBB resin cement and composite resin cement. Half of the specimens were subjected to a thermocycling process. Subsequently, a shear bond test was carried out. In addition, surface roughness was measured for each surface type. The results showed that laser treatment increased zirconia surface roughness and that laser treatment significantly increased shear bond strength after the thermocycling of both cement types compared to no treatment. Our experimental results suggested that ytterbium laser surface treatment of zirconia increased the bond strength of resin cements.

Bond durability and surface states of titanium, Ti-6Al-4V alloy, and zirconia for implant materials.

PURPOSE: Screw-retained implant crowns used as dental implants comprise a zirconia coping and titanium base bonded using resin cement. These devices are prone to debonding failures. This study investigated the bond characteristics of implant materials based on shear bond strength (SBS) and surface characteristics. METHODS: Chemically pure (CP) titanium grade-4 (Ti), Ti-6Al-4V alloy (Ti-6Al-4V), and tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia (zirconia) were evaluated as adherent materials. Plates of each material were polished, primed for the respective resin cements, and cemented using either methyl methacrylate-based resin cement (Super-Bond) or composite-based resin cement (Panavia). The cemented samples were subjected to 10,000 thermocycles alternating between 5 and 55 °C, and the SBS were obtained before and after thermocycling. The sample surfaces were characterized based on surface observations, roughness, and free energy (SFE). RESULTS: The SBSs of all materials bonded using Panavia were significantly compromised during thermocycling and reached zero. Although the SBSs of Ti and Ti-6Al-4V bonded using Super-Bond were not significantly affected by thermocycling, those of zirconia decreased significantly. The bond durability between zirconia and Super-Bond was improved via alumina air-abrasion, which caused no significant loss of SBS after thermocycling. Surface analyses of the air-abraded zirconia validated these results and confirmed that its surface roughness and SFE were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The bond durability between resin cement and zirconia was lower than that between Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. The alumina air-abrasion pretreatment of zirconia improved the SFE and surface roughness, thereby enhancing bond durability.

Bond strength of artificial teeth to thermoplastic denture base resin for injection molding.

This research was conducted to investigate the bond strength between artificial teeth and a thermoplastic denture base resin for injection molding with different surface preparations for use in flexible resin removable partial dentures. Composite resin denture teeth and acrylic denture resin teeth were bonded to three types of thermoplastic denture base resins for injection molding (polyamide, polyester, and polycarbonate) and a conventional heat-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin (control). The ridge lap surfaces of the artificial teeth were classified into four groups based on the type of ridge lap surface treatment applied (n=10): no treatment, ethyl acetate, small T-shaped tunnel, and large T-shaped tunnel. The specimens were tested for bond strength. The results showed that the ethyl acetate treatment was ineffective for enhancing the bond strength (p>0.05) between the artificial teeth and thermoplastic denture base resin for injection molding, whereas the T-shaped tunnel was quite effective in this regard (p<0.05).

Effect of cellulose nanofiber content on flexural properties of a model, thermoplastic, injection-molded, polymethyl methacrylate denture base material.

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) made from wood-derived fiber is considered as a potential alternative reinforcing material to conventional fibers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CNF on the flexural properties of CNF-reinforced, injection molded, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base material. Test specimens were fabricated from a model thermoplastic denture base resin using the injection molding technique. The resin pellets were mixed with CNF (to obtain different weight percentages 5, 10, 15, and 23 wt%). PMMA without CNF served as the control (0 wt%). Prior to the testing, the test specimens (n = 12/group) were water-immersed at 37 °C water for 50 h. The flexural strengths and moduli of the specimens were determined using three-point bending tests. Statistical evaluation included a one-way analysis of variance and the Student-Newman-Keuls test (α = 0.05). The mean and standard deviation of flexural strengths with the addition of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 23% CNF were 49.4 (±0.7), 56.4 (±1.3), 63.5 (±2.0), 72.0 (±4.7), and 96.8 (±4.0) MPa, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of flexural modulus with the addition of the same concentrations of CNF were 1.31 (±0.02), 1.56 (±0.05), 1.99 (±0.14), 2.40 (±0.15), and 3.96 (±0.08) GPa, respectively. The flexural strengths and moduli of the CNF-reinforced PMMA were significantly higher than those of pure PMMA (p < 0.05). Hence, incorporation of CNF can significantly improve flexural properties of a thermoplastic PMMA denture base material.

Effect of surface preparation on the failure load of a highly filled composite resin bonded to a denture base resin.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the surface preparation on the maximum fracture load value of a highly filled gingival shade composite resin bonded to a denture base resin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Block specimens were prepared from a heat-processed denture base resin and divided into five groups. The flat surfaces of the specimens were abraded with 400-grit silicon carbide paper, then prepared in one of the following ways: (1) without preparation (group 1); (2) application of silane coupling agent (group 2); (3) application of dichloromethane (group 3); (4) application of dichloromethane following the silane coupling agent (group 4); or (5) tribochemical silica coating (group 5). A highly filled gingival shade composite resin was applied (area diameter= 5 mm) and polymerized with a light polymerizing unit. Specimens made entirely of heat-processed denture base resin were also fabricated as references (group 6). The halves of the specimens of groups 4, 5, and 6 were thermocycled up to 10,000 times in water between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C with a 1-minute dwell time at each temperature. Shear testing was performed in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min, and the maximum fracture load values were determined (n = 10). RESULTS: The maximum fracture load values of the highly filled gingival shade composite resin bonded to the denture base resin for all preparation groups were significantly enhanced before thermocycling (p < 0.05). Group 5 exhibited the greatest fracture load value, followed by group 4, compared to the other groups (p < 0.05), however, the fracture load values significantly decreased for these groups after thermocycling (p < 0.05), whereas the fracture load value of group 6 did not decrease (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tribochemical silica coating and the application of dichloromethane after the silane coupling agent were effective surface preparations for the bonding of a highly filled gingival shade composite resin to a denture base resin, however, the bond durability of these treatments may be insufficient.

Bonding of autopolymerizing acrylic resins to magnetic stainless steel alloys using metal conditioner.

OBJECTIVES: The shear bond strengths of a barbituric acid derivative-activated autopolymerizing acrylic resin to two magnetic stainless steel alloys using a metal conditioner were investigated. METHODS: The surfaces of the two magnetic stainless steel alloys were abraded with 600-grit silicon carbide paper. The surface preparations were: Group 1 (without preparation), Group 2 (airborne particle abrasion with 50 microm alumina), and Group 3 (airborne particle abrasion followed by priming with a metal conditioner). The alloys were bonded with a barbituric acid derivative-activated autopolymerizing acrylic resin. For comparison, airborne particle abrasion and bonding with a tri-n-butylborane-initiated autopolymerizing acrylic resin (Group 4), as well as airborne particle abrasion followed by priming with a metal conditioner and bonding with the same resin (Group 5) were added. Half of the specimens were thermocycled up to 10,000 cycles. The shear bond strengths were determined. RESULTS: Group 3 had significantly improved shear bond strengths with the barbituric acid derivative-activated autopolymerizing acrylic resin to both stainless steel alloys. Although there were no significant differences in the bond strength among Groups 3-5 before thermocycling, the decrease in the bond strength of Group 3 was considerably greater than that of Groups 4 or 5 after thermocycling for both stainless steel alloys. CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvements in the bond strength of the barbituric acid derivative-activated autopolymerizing acrylic resin to two magnetic stainless steel alloys were achieved by airborne particle abrasion followed by priming with the metal conditioner. The bond durability to this resin, however, was inferior to that to a tri-n-butylborane-initiated autopolymerizing acrylic resin.

Effect of three metal priming agents on the bond strength of adhesive resin cement to Ag-Zn-Sn-In alloy and component metals.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three metal priming agents on the bond strength of adhesive resin cement to Silver-Zinc-Tin-Indium (Ag-Zn-Sn-In) alloy and pure Ag, Zn, Sn, and In. The specimens were air-abraded with alumina and then primed with one of three metal priming agents: V-Primer, Estenia Opaque Primer, or Alloy Primer. The metal disks were bonded with adhesive resin cement (Super-Bond Bulk-mix technique). Shear bond strengths (n=10/group) were determined before and after 50,000 thermocycles for Ag-Zn-Sn-In alloy as well as after 5,000 thermocycles for pure Ag, Zn, Sn and In. For Ag-Zn-Sn-In alloy, the post-thermocycling bond strength of the Alloy Primer group was significantly higher than that of the other primers. It can be concluded that Alloy Primer containing both the vinyl-thione monomer (VBATDT) and hydrophobic phosphate monomer (MDP) is effective for bonding Ag-Zn-Sn-In alloy and pure Ag, Zn and Sn.

Convection-enhanced delivery of a topoisomerase I inhibitor (nanoliposomal topotecan) and a topoisomerase II inhibitor (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) in intracranial brain tumor xenografts.

Despite multimodal treatment options, the response and survival rates for patients with malignant gliomas remain dismal. Clinical trials with convection-enhanced delivery (CED) have recently opened a new window in neuro-oncology to the direct delivery of chemotherapeutics to the CNS, circumventing the blood-brain barrier and reducing systemic side effects. Our previous CED studies with liposomal chemotherapeutics have shown promising antitumor activity in rodent brain tumor models. In this study, we evaluated a combination of nanoliposomal topotecan (nLs-TPT) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) to enhance efficacy in our brain tumor models, and to establish a CED treatment capable of improving survival from malignant brain tumors. Both liposomal drugs decreased key enzymes involved in tumor cell replication in vitro. Synergistic effects of nLs-TPT and PLD on U87MG cell death were found. The combination displayed excellent efficacy in a CED-based survival study 10 days after tumor cell implantation. Animals in the control group and those in singleagent groups had a median survival of less than 30 days, whereas the combination group experienced a median survival of more than 90 days. We conclude that CED of two liposomal chemotherapeutics (nLs-TPT and PLD) may be an effective treatment option for malignant gliomas.

Convection-enhanced delivery of nanoliposomal CPT-11 (irinotecan) and PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) in rodent intracranial brain tumor xenografts.

We have previously shown that convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of highly stable nanoparticle/liposome agents encapsulating chemotherapeutic drugs is effective against intracranial rodent brain tumor xenografts. In this study, we have evaluated the combination of a newly developed nanoparticle/liposome containing the topoisomerase I inhibitor CPT-11 (nanoliposomal CPT-11 [nLs-CPT-11]), and PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) containing the topoisomerase II inhibitor doxorubicin. Both drugs were detectable in the CNS for more than 36 days after a single CED application. Tissue half-life was 16.7 days for nLs-CPT-11 and 10.9 days for Doxil. The combination of the two agents produced synergistic cytotoxicity in vitro. In vivo in U251MG and U87MG intracranial rodent xenograft models, CED of the combination was also more efficacious than either agent used singly. Analysis of the parameters involved in this approach indicated that tissue pharmacokinetics, tumor microanatomy, and biochemical interactions of the drugs all contributed to the therapeutic efficacy observed. These findings have implications for further clinical applications of CED-based treatment of brain tumors.

The relationship among p53 oligomer formation, structure and transcriptional activity using a comprehensive missense mutation library.

Tumor suppressor p53 forms a homo-tetramer through its COOH-terminal oligomerization domain and acts as a sequence-specific transcription factor. We have analysed the interrelation among the transcriptional activities, the structure and the cancer-related mutations in the oligomerization domain by using a comprehensive missense mutation library. Here, we examined the ability of 184 mutant p53s in the domain to form an oligomer by expressing these mutant p53s in yeast, and compared the data with the previous information. We showed that specific residues in the alpha-helix and the beta-strand of the oligomerization domain were critical for both oligomer formation and sequence-specific transactivation, and the activities were closely related. In particular, the alpha-helix was more sensitive to amino-acid substitutions than the beta-strand. We found identity in the interrelation between the two activities, that is, monomer mutants were transcriptionally inactive whereas dimer and tetramer mutants retained their transcriptional activities. In TP53 mutation databases, a small number of mutations have been reported in this domain. Surprisingly, most do not encode p53s defective in functional properties. These results indicate that, although oligomer formation is essential for p53 transactivation function, the inactivation of oligomer formation and therefore the inactivation of transactivation may not be essential for tumor suppression by p53 because they do not lead to oncogenic proteins.

Effect of long-term water immersion or thermal shock on mechanical properties of high-impact acrylic denture base resins.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term water immersion or thermal shock on the mechanical properties of high-impact acrylic denture base resins. Two high-impact acrylic denture base resins were selected for the study. Specimens of each denture base material tested were fabricated according to the manufacturers' instructions (n=10). The flexural strength at the proportional limit, the elastic modulus and the impact strength of the specimens were evaluated. The flexural strength at the proportional limit of the high-impact acrylic denture base resins did not change after six months' water immersion or thermocycling 50,000 times. The elastic moduli of the high-impact acrylic denture base resins significantly increased after six months' water immersion or thermocycling 50,000 times. The impact strengths of the high-impact acrylic denture base resins significantly decreased after water immersion or thermocycling as described above.

Flexural strengths of reinforced denture base resins subjected to long-term water immersion.

Objective This study evaluated the flexural strengths of reinforced denture base resins subjected to long-term water immersion. Materials and methods Acrylic denture base resin reinforced with metal wire or glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC), and without reinforcement were tested. Bar-shaped specimens were fabricated. Half of the specimens were stored in 37 °C distilled water for 50 hours (h), the other half were stored in 37 °C distilled water for 180 days (d) before testing. Ten specimens were fabricated per group for each reinforcement/water immersion period combination. The ultimate flexural strength and flexural strength at the proportional limit of reinforced denture base resin were tested. Results The 180 d bulk specimen possessed significantly lower ultimate flexural strength compared with the 50 h bulk specimen (p < 0.05). The ultimate flexural strength of the 50 h metal, 50 h FRC, 180 d metal and the 180 d FRC reinforcement specimens were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.05). The 180 d bulk specimen had a significantly lower flexural strength at the proportional limit compared to the 50 h bulk specimen. The 180 d reinforced specimens of metal and FRC were not significantly different from each of the 50 h specimens. Conclusion The flexural strengths of a reinforced denture base resin did not change after long-term water immersion.

Reinforcing effect of glass fiber-reinforced composite reinforcement on flexural strength at proportional limit of a repaired denture base resin.

Objective: This study evaluated the reinforcing effect of glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) reinforcement on flexural strength at the proportional limit (FS-PL) of a repaired denture base resin. Materials and methods: Repaired denture base resins reinforced with metal and with FRC reinforcement, and that without reinforcement were tested. The ultimate flexural strength, the FS-PL and the elastic modulus of repaired denture base resins were tested. The joint efficiency (times) of the repaired denture base resins on the intact denture base resin was evaluated. Results: The repaired denture base resins reinforced with metal reinforcement and with FRC reinforcement had significantly higher ultimate flexural strength than the repaired denture base resin without reinforcement (p < 0.05) and were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.05). The FS-PL of a repaired denture base resin reinforced with the FRC reinforcement was similar to that with the metal reinforcement (p > 0.05), and these were significantly higher than the FS-PL of a repaired denture base resin without reinforcement (p < 0.05). The elastic modulus of the repaired denture base resin reinforced with the FRC reinforcement was significantly lower than that with metal reinforcement (p < 0.05) and was significantly higher than that without reinforcement (p < 0.05). The joint efficiency of the FRC reinforced specimen was 0.98. Conclusion: The FRC reinforcement had a reinforcing effect on the FS-PL of a repaired denture base resin.

Effect of heat treatment of polymethyl methacrylate powder on mechanical properties of denture base resin.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of heat treatment of polymethyl methacrylate powder on mechanical properties of denture base resin. METHODS: PMMA powder was applied after heat treatment at 100°C for 2h (code: HT100) or 130°C for 2h (code: HT130). The test specimens were fabricated from autopolymerizing resin to investigate the flexural properties of denture base resin cross-linked with methacrylated dendrimer, the surface microhardness of PMMA beads, and the thickness of the swollen layer of PMMA beads. The specimens were autopolymerized, and all specimens were stored in 37°C water for 24h. Half of the specimens were immersed in 37°C water for an additional 6 months (water storage period: 24h and 6 months). The flexural strength and flexural modulus (n=10/group) were measured with a three point bending test. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and the Newman-Keuls test at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Heat treatment and the water storage period had a significant effect on flexural strength. The flexural strength of HT130 showed significantly higher values than in other groups. The surface microhardness of PMMA beads of HT130 showed a significantly greater microhardness than other groups. The thickness of a swollen layer of PMMA beads of HT100 and HT130 was significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The flexural strength and the surface microhardness were increased after heat treatment at 130°C. The thickness of a swollen layer of PMMA beads was decreased after heat treatment.

Effect of surface preparation on the bond strength of heat-polymerized denture base resin to commercially pure titanium and cobalt-chromium alloy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the bond durability of heat-polymerized denture base resin to cast CP Ti and Co-Cr alloy. The alloy specimens were divided into five groups: 1) airborne-particle abraded with 50 µm alumina (SAND), 2) Rocatec tribochemical silica coating system (RO), 3) air-abraded followed by application of Epricord Opaque Primer (EP), 4) air-abraded followed by application of Super Bond C&B liquid (SB), 5) air-abraded followed by application of Alloy Primer (AL). Heat-polymerized denture resin was applied to the bonding area and polymerized according to the manufacturer's instructions. The halves of all specimens were thermocycled up to 10,000 cycles. Before thermocycling SB and AL showed significantly higher shear bond strengths than SAND, RO, EP for both metals. The shear bond strength of AL group after thermocycling was significantly higher than that of the other groups.

Mechanical properties of denture base resin cross-linked with methacrylated dendrimer.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of denture base resin cross-linked with methacrylated dendrimer. METHODS: The test specimens (3 mm × 10 mm × 65 mm) were fabricated from autopolymerizing resin with the powder/liquid ratio of 10 g/7 ml. The monomer liquid of resin was applied with the mixture of methylmethacrylate and crosslinker dendrimer (DD1) or crosslinker ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) with five different volume percentages (vol%). The dendrimer crosslinker in this study is a methacrylated molecule (MW=3617 g/mol) with 12 methacrylate groups. Quantity of crosslinkers varied from 1.1 to 9.1 vol%. The specimens (n=8/group) were polymerized in distilled water maintained at 55 °C under pressure of 0.4 MPa for 20 min. Test specimens were stored dry at room temperature before testing. The flexural strength (MPa) and flexural modulus (GPa) was measured with three-point bending test at a crosshead speed of 5mm/min. Surface microhardness (MHN) of matrix area of polymer (n=8/group) was measured with a load of 245.3 mN by 10s. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: ANOVA showed that the addition of DD1 had a significantly higher effect (p<0.05) on flexural modulus and hardness of matrix area than EGDMA but on flexural strength (p>0.05). The effect of quantity differences of crosslinker was statistically significant only on flexural strength (p<0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study suggest that dendrimer-crosslinked resin gives better stiffness than that of EGDMA.

Influence of molecular weight of polymethyl(methacrylate) beads on the properties and structure of cross-linked denture base polymer.

OBJECTIVES: Denture base polymers are multiphase polymers made of polymethyl(methacrylate) (PMMA) beads and monomers containing methylmethacrylate and cross-linking agent. The cross-linking agent is typically dimethacrylate but methacrylated dendrimers have been tested. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the molecular weight of the PMMA beads on the mechanical properties of cross-linked denture base polymers. METHODS: Resin powder with three different molecular weights (Mw 120,000, 350,000, and 996,000) and a commercial autopolymerizing denture base resin (Palapress, Mw 220,000) were tested. The resin monomer liquid was applied with a methylmethacrylate mixture containing 4.6 vol% dendrimer (DD1, VTT Processes). To investigate the flexural properties, the surface microhardness of the PMMA beads, and the thickness of the swollen interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) layer on the PMMA beads, test specimens (3.3×10×65 mm) were fabricated from autopolymerizing resin using a powder/liquid ratio of 10 g/7 ml. The specimens were polymerized in distilled water maintained at 55 °C under 0.4 MPa pressure for 20 min. The flexural strength and flexural modulus (n=8/group) were measured with a three-point bending test at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. The Vickers hardness of the area of the polymer with PMMA beads (n=10/group) was tested using a load of 98.12 mN for 5 s. In addition, the thickness of the swollen layer on the PMMA beads was measured (n=10/group). Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. RESULTS: The flexural strength of the specimens with Mw 220,000 and 350,000 PMMA beads was significantly higher than the strength of specimens with beads having other molecular weights. The flexural modulus of specimens with Mw 120,000 PMMA beads was the lowest. There was no difference in the surface microhardness among all groups. The thickness of the swollen IPN layer on specimens with 120,000 Mw PMMA beads was significantly higher than in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular weight of the PMMA beads of multiphase denture base polymers considerably influences their flexural properties and formation of IPN layer between the matrix polymer and the PMMA beads.

Isolation and biochemical characterization of extracellular polymeric secretions (EPS) from modern soft marine stromatolites (Bahamas) and its inhibitory effect on CaCO3 precipitation.

Bahamian soft marine stromatolites consist of cyanobacterial biofilms and carbonate sand grains (ooids) embedded in their extracellular polymeric secretions (EPS). EPS were isolated from natural marine stromatolites and the laboratory cultured stromatolite forming cyanobacterium isolate Schizothix sp. Laboratory investigations were conducted to examine biochemical characteristics and the role of EPS in the inhibition of CaCO3 precipitation. EPS consisted of acid polysaccharides and proteins. SDS-PAGE and amino acid analysis suggested that EPS from both soft marine stromatolite and Schizothrix sp. mat contained small proteins (38 kD and 45 kD) enriched in aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Also, immuno blotting suggested that natural EPS contain high molecular weight acid polysaccharide (500 k) which may represent cross-linked products of laboratory cultured Schizothrix sp. acid polysaccharide (300 k). EPS from both soft marine stromatolite and laboratory cultured Schizothrix sp. inhibited CaCO3 precipitation in vitro, as determined using pH drift assays examining pH decrease which occur in response to CaCO3 precipitation. PH drift assays of enzymatically and chemically modified EPS isolated from soft marine stromatolite and laboratory cultured Schizothrix sp. indicated that both uronic acids and protein fractions may be involved in the inhibition of CaCO3 precipitation.