The effect of aging methods on the fracture toughness and physical stability of an oxirane/acrylate, ormocer, and Bis-GMA-based resin composites.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of aging methods on the fracture toughness of a conventional Bis-GMA-based resin composite (Filtek Supreme), an ormocer-based resin composite (Admira), and an experimental hydrophobic oxirane/acrylate interpenetrating network resin system (OASys)-based composite. METHODS: A 25 × 5 × 2.8-mm stainless-steel mold with 2.5 mm single-edge center notch, following ASTM standards [E399-90], was used to fabricate 135 specimens (n = 15) of the composite materials and randomly distributed into groups. For the baseline group, specimens were fabricated and then tested after 24-h storage in water. For the biofilm challenge, specimens were randomly placed in a six-well tissue culture plate and kept at 37 °C with bacterial growth media (Brain Heart Infusion (BHI); Streptococcus mutans) changed daily for 15 days. For the water storage challenge, specimens were kept in 5 ml of deionized distilled autoclaved water for 30 days at 37 °C. µCT evaluation by scanning the specimens was performed before and after the proposed challenge. Fracture toughness (KIc) testing was carried out following the challenges. RESULTS: µCT surface area and volume analyses showed no significant changes regardless of the materials tested or the challenge. Filtek and Admira fracture toughness was significantly lower after the biofilm and water storage challenges. OASys mean fracture toughness values after water aging were significantly higher than that of baseline. Toughness values for OASys composites after biofilm aging were not statistically different when compared to either water or baseline values. CONCLUSION: The fracture toughness of Bis-GMA and ormocer-based dental resin composites significantly decreased under water and bacterial biofilm assault. However, such degradation in fracture toughness was not visible in OASys-based composites. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Current commercial dental composites are affected by the oral environment, which might contribute to the long-term performance of these materials.

Development of an oxirane/acrylate interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) resin system.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a hydrophobic, degradation-resistant dental restorative based on an Oxirane-Acrylate IPN System (OASys) with low shrinkage-stress to substantially extend clinical lifetime. METHODS: Unfilled OASys blends were prepared using dipenta-erythritol-hexaacrylate (DPHA) and p-cycloaliphatic-diepoxide (EP5000). Varying proportions of camphorquinone/iodonium photoinitiator, with a co-reactant oligomeric-diol, served as the experimental curing system. The effects of oxirane-acrylate ratio on the degree-of-cure (Durometer-D hardness), hydrophobicity (contact angle), mechanical properties (3-point bending), near-infrared FTIR degree-of-conversion (DoC), polymerization shrinkage, and shrinkage stress were determined. 70:30 BisGMA:TEGDMA resin served as control. RESULTS: Oxirane tended to decrease hardness and increase hydrophobicity. 0:100, 25:75, 50:50 EP5000:DPHA are harder after 24h than control. 75:25 and 100:0 EP5000:DPHA increased in hardness over 24h, but were softer than control. All groups increased in contact angle over 24h. After 24h, 50:50, 75:25 and 0:100 EP5000:DPHA were more hydrophobic (∼75-84°) than the control (∼65°). Acrylate DoC was ∼60% across all experimental groups. Initial oxirane conversion varied from ∼42% in 100:0 EP5000:DPHA to ∼82% 75:25 EP5000:DPHA. However, oxirane DoC increased for 100:0 EP5000:DPHA to ∼73° over 24h, demonstrating dark cure. Moduli and ultimate transverse strengths of OASys groups were higher than for 0:100 EP5000:DPHA, with 50:50 EP5000:DPHA having higher modulus than other experimental groups. However, the control had higher modulus and UTS than all experimental groups. Volumetric shrinkage averaged 7% for experimental groups, but stress decreased dramatically with increasing oxirane content. SIGNIFICANCE: Hydrophobic, low shrinkage-stress OASys resins are promising for development of composites that improve longevity and reduce the cost of dental care.

Fluoride Exposure in Early Life as the Possible Root Cause of Disease In Later Life.

Fluoride, one of the most celebrated ingredients for the prevention of dental caries in the 20th century, has also been controversial for its use in dentifrices and other applications. In the current review, we have concentrated primarily on early-life exposure to fluoride and how it may affect the various organs. The most recent controversial aspects of fluoride are related to toxicity of the developing brain and how it may possibly result in the decrease of intelligence quotient (IQ), autism, and calcification of the pineal gland. In addition, it has been reported to have possible effects on bone and thyroid glands. If nutritional stress is applied during a critical period of growth and development, the organ(s) and/or body will never recover once they pass through the critical period. For example, if animals are force-fed during experiments, they will simply get fat but never reach the normal size. Although early-life fluoride exposure causing fluorosis is well reported in the literature, the dental profession considers it primarily as an esthetic rather than a serious systemic problem. In the current review, we wanted to raise the possibility of future disease as a result of early-life exposure to fluoride. It is not currently known how fluoride will become a cause of future disease. Studies of other nutritional factors have shown that the effects of early nutritional stress are a cause of disease in later life.

Theobromine Upregulates Osteogenesis by Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro and Accelerates Bone Development in Rats.

Theobromine (THB) is one of the major xanthine-like alkaloids found in cacao plant and a variety of other foodstuffs such as tea leaves, guarana and cola nuts. Historically, THB and its derivatives have been utilized to treat cardiac and circulatory disorders, drug-induced nephrotoxicity, proteinuria and as an immune-modulator. Our previous work demonstrated that THB has the capacity to improve the formation of hydroxyl-apatite during tooth development, suggesting that it may also enhance skeletal development. With its excellent safety profile and resistance to pharmacokinetic elimination, we reasoned that it might be an excellent natural osteoanabolic supplement during pregnancy, lactation and early postnatal growth. To determine whether THB had an effect on human osteoprogenitors, we subjected primary human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to osteogenic assays after exposure to THB in vitro and observed that THB exposure increased the rate of osteogenesis and mineralization by hMSCs. Moreover, THB exposure resulted in a list of upregulated mRNA transcripts that best matched an osteogenic tissue expression signature as compared to other tissue expression signatures archived in several databases. To determine whether oral administration of THB resulted in improved skeletal growth, we provided pregnant rats with chow supplemented with THB during pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, offspring received THB continuously until postnatal day 50 (approximately 10 mg kg-1 day-1). Administration of THB resulted in neonates with larger bones, and 50-day-old offspring accumulated greater body mass, longer and thicker femora and superior tibial trabecular parameters. The accelerated growth did not adversely affect the strength and resilience of the bones. These results indicate that THB increases the osteogenic potential of bone marrow osteoprogenitors, and dietary supplementation of a safe dose of THB to expectant mothers and during the postnatal period could accelerate skeletal development in their offspring.

Relationship between thin-film bond strength as measured by a scratch test, and indentation hardness for bonding agents.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate thin-film bond strength between a bonding agent and human dentin, using a scratch test, and the characteristics and accuracy of measurement. METHODS: One-step bonding agents (BeautiBond; Bond Force; Adper Easy Bond; Clearfil tri-S Bond) and two-step bonding agents (Cleafil SE Bond; FL-Bond II) were investigated in this study. Flat dentin surfaces were prepared for extracted human molars. The dentin surfaces were ground and bonding agents were applied and light cured. The thin-film bond strength test of the specimens was evaluated by the critical load at which the coated bonding agent failed and dentin appeared. The scratch mark sections were then observed under a scanning electron microscope. Indentation hardness was evaluated by the variation in depth under an applied load of 10gf. Data were compared by one-way ANOVA with the Scheffé's post hoc multiple comparison test (p<0.05). In addition, thin-film bond strength and indentation hardness were analyzed using analysis of correlation and covariance. RESULTS: The thin-film bond strength of two-step bonding agents were found to be significantly higher than that of one-step bonding agents with small standard deviations. Scratch marks consistently showed adhesive failure in the vicinity of the bonding agent/dentin interface. The indentation hardness showed a trend that two-step bonding agents have greater hardness than one-step bonding agents. A moderately significant correlation (r(2)=0.31) was found between thin-film bond strength and indentation hardness. SIGNIFICANCE: Thin-film bond strength test is a valid and reliable means of evaluating bond strength in the vicinity of the adhesive interface and is more accurate than other methods currently in use. Further, the thin-film bond strength is influenced by the hardness of the cued bonding agent.

Development of a low-color, color stable, dual cure dental resin.

UNLABELLED: Dual-cure (DC) resins are mainly used as cements due to high initial color (generally yellow) and large color shift (ΔE*) after polymerization as compared to light-cured resins. However, even as cements, this color shift is clinically unacceptable, especially when used to cement thin veneers. OBJECTIVE: To develop a novel DC initiator system with both lower initial color (less yellow, i.e., whiter) and smaller ΔE*. METHODS: The effect of using an allyl thiourea (T)/cumene hydroperoxide (CH) self-cure (SC) initiator system in combination with a photo-co-initiator, p-octyloxy-phenyl-phenyl iodonium hexafluoroantimonate (OPPI), in a commercial DC resin cement (PermaFlo DC, Ultradent Products, Inc.) was investigated. Initial color and ΔE* were assessed for 6 weeks in vitro under accelerated aging conditions (75°C water bath). Rockwell15T hardness was used to assess degree of cure (DoC) and the three-point bending test was used to assess mechanical properties. RESULTS: PermaFlo DC (control) was significantly harder than all experimental groups without OPPI but had up to three times higher initial color and four times greater color shift (ΔE*=27 vs. 8). With OPPI, hardness in the experimental groups increased significantly and several were comparable to the controls. Initial color and ΔE* increased slightly (ΔE*=9), but was still 3 times less than that of PermaFlo DC. DC samples containing OPPI had comparable modulus and ultimate transverse strengths to those of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: DC resins that use the T/CH initiator system are weaker but have extremely low color and ΔE*. The addition of OPPI increases DoC and mechanical properties to clinically acceptable levels and maintains extremely low color and ΔE*. SIGNIFICANCE: With this novel initiator system, DC resins potentially can now have comparable color and color stability to light-cure resins and be used in broader esthetic dental applications to improve color stability and reduce shrinkage stress in restorative composites.

Antimicrobial acrylic materials with in situ generated silver nanoparticles.

UNLABELLED: Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used to treat traumatic head injuries (cranioplasty) and orthopedic injuries (bone cement), but there is a problem with implant-centered infections. With organisms such as Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus developing resistance to antibiotics, there is a need for novel antimicrobial delivery mechanisms without risk of developing resistant organisms. OBJECTIVES: To develop a novel antimicrobial implant material by generating silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in situ in PMMA. RESULTS: All PMMA samples with AgNP's (AgNP-PMMA) released Ag(+) ions in vitro for over 28 days. In vitro antimicrobial assays revealed that these samples (even samples with the slowest release rate) inhibited 99.9% of bacteria against four different strains of bacteria. Long-term antimicrobial assay showed a continued antibacterial effect past 28 days. Some AgNP-loaded PMMA groups had comparable Durometer-D hardness (a measure of degree of cure) and modulus to control PMMA, but all experimental groups had slightly lower ultimate transverse strengths. CONCLUSIONS: AgNP-PMMA demonstrated a tremendously broad-spectrum and long-intermediate-term antimicrobial effect with comparable mechanical properties to control PMMA. Current efforts are focused on further improving mechanical properties by reducing AgNP loading and assessing fatigue properties.

Antimicrobial activity of nanoemulsion on cariogenic Streptococcus mutans.

OBJECTIVE: To assess antimicrobial activities of nanoemulsion (NE) to control the adhesion and biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans by in vitro. DESIGN: In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of nanoemulsion was determined as per National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines and agar diffusion, serial dilution technique for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC). Efficacy was tested by kinetics of killing, biofilm assay and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: : NE concentrations ranging from 1:100 to 1:10,000 dilutions were effective against S. mutans as shown through MIC/MBC assays. NE showed antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells at high dilutions, confirmed by time kill studies. 4-day-old S. mutans biofilms were treated with NE; subsequent reductions of bacterial cell counts were noticed with decreasing dilutions. Staining of NE-treated biofilms with LIVE/DEAD BacLight resulted in dead cell areas of up to 48% in 1 min, 84% at 1h and significant (<0.05) increases in dead cell counts at all time points. Damage to cell membranes and cell walls of S. mutans by NE was demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that nanoemulsion has effective antibacterial activity against S. mutans and may be a useful medication in the prevention of dental caries.

Development of an antimicrobial resin--a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) could be synthesized in situ in acrylic dental resins. METHODS: Light-cure (LC; bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate, tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate blend) and chemical-cure systems (CC; orthodontic denture resin) were used to synthesize AgNPs using different concentrations of Ag benzoate (AgBz). RESULTS: Rockwell hardness for LC resins showed that resins could be cured with up to 0.15% AgBz, while the hardness of CC resins were unaffected in the concentrations tested. UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of AgNPs in both LC and CC resins. Generally, CC resins had better distribution of and much smaller AgNPs as compared to LC resins overall. In some samples, especially in LC resins, nanoclusters were visible. An in vitro release study over four-weeks showed that CC resins released the most Ag(+) ions, with release detected in all samples. However, LC resins only released Ag(+) ions when AgBz concentration was greater than 0.1% (w/w). AgNP-loaded CC resins made with 0.2 and 0.5% (w/w) AgBz were tested for antibacterial activity in vitro against Streptococcus mutans, and results showed 52.4% and a 97.5% bacterial inhibition, respectively. Further work is now warranted to test mechanical properties and to optimize the initiator system to produce commercially useful dental and medical resins. SIGNIFICANCE: Success in this work could lead to a series of antimicrobial medical and dental biomaterials that can prevent secondary caries and infection of implants.

Anti-cariogenic effect of a cetylpyridinium chloride-containing nanoemulsion.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the anticaries activity of a nanoemulsion composed of soybean oil, water, Triton X-100 and cetylpyridinium chloride. METHODS: Tooth blocks (3 mm length x 3 mm width x 2 mm thickness) were cut from smooth surfaces of selected molar teeth using a water-cooled diamond wire saw. The blocks were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: (A) nanoemulsion, (B) 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, and (C) no treatment. The formation of dental caries in human tooth enamel was tested using a continuous flow dual-organism (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei), biofilm model, which acts as an artificial mouth and simulates the biological and physiological activities observed within the oral environment. Experimental groups A and B were treated with their respective solutions once daily for 30 s on each occasion, while group C received no treatment. 10% sucrose was supplied every 6 h for 6 min to simulate meals and pH cycling. The experiment lasted for 5 days, and the tooth blocks were harvested and processed for demineralization assessment using transverse microradiography (TMR). RESULTS: For both lesion depth and mineral loss, statistical analysis indicated that Emulsion was significantly lower than Control and Chlorhexidine, and Chlorhexidine was significantly lower than Control. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that cetylpyridinium-containing nanoemulsions appear to present a feasible means of preventing the occurrence of early caries.

Rubber-toughening of dimethacrylate dental composite resin.

UNLABELLED: Dimethacrylate dental composite resins exhibit inherently low toughness. Toughening of these materials may reduce the incidence of marginal and bulk fracture of composite restorations. OBJECTIVE: To determine if dimethacrylate dental restorative materials can be rubber-toughened, and if so, to identify a possible mechanism. METHODS: A filler composed of aggregates of polybutadiene/silica as well as irregularly-shaped silica slabs was produced by mixing silica with polybutadiene in dichloromethane. The dried filler was subsequently ground and sieved to < 25 microm. Polybutadiene/silica ratios were varied from 0:1 (control) to 0.5:1. EDAX analysis verified the composition of the complex filler. Filler was added to a bis-GMA/bis-EMA/TEGDMA resin system and fractured in three-point bend test mode at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. In addition, 1 bar was fractured at a crosshead speed of 0.001 mm/min to identify a possible mechanism for toughening. RESULTS: In specimens fractured at 1 mm/min, flexural modulus is increased or maintained and flexural strength and energy to break increase as the amount of polybutadiene in the aggregates increases. Cavitation of high-rubber-containing aggregates is demonstrated. In the one specimen fractured at 0.001 mm/min, a marked increase in size of high-rubber-containing aggregates along with severe shear damage in the surrounding matrix is shown, suggesting that cavitation with subsequent absorption of energy during shear yielding is the likely mechanism behind the increase in energy to break in bars fractured at 1 mm/min. SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate that dimethacrylate dental composite materials can be rubber toughened, which may potentially reduce marginal and bulk fractures of composite restorations, and consequently extend their service lifetime.

Inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm formation on denture material.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the ability of several thin-film polymer formulations, with and without incorporated antifungals, to inhibit Candida albicans biofilm growth on denture material. The inhibition of C. albicans biofilms on maxillary dentures could play a significant role in preventing the development of denture stomatitis. STUDY DESIGN: Low-porosity and high-porosity thin-film polymer formulations were used and one of the following fungicides was added: 1) chlorhexidine diacetate at 1.0%; 2) nystatin at 1.0%; or 3) amphotericin B at 0.1%. These coatings were placed on rectangular (12 x 10 mm) dental resin material samples. A subset of the coated dental materials were brushed to simulate denture cleaning for 1 minute per day for 1 year. Candida albicans biofilms were formed on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) specimens placed in 24-well polystyrene plates, and the extent of biofilm formation on coated and noncoated specimens was assessed using a 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay. RESULTS: Thin-film polymer PMMA coatings alone, without an antifungal agent, produced a small significant reduction in C. albicans biofilm formation compared with control PMMA. However, incorporation of antifungal medications into the thin-film polymer reduced biofilm formation between 70% and 80% with nystatin, and between 50% and 60% with amphotericin B. Biofilm reduction with chlorhexidine (up to 98%) was significantly greater than all other formulations tested (P < .025). CONCLUSION: This novel thin-film coating with various antifungals effectively inhibits C. albicans biofilm formation and should be evaluated as a potential preventive therapy for denture stomatitis.

Degree of conversion and color stability of the light curing resin with new photoinitiator systems.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated p-octyloxy-phenyl-phenyl iodonium hexafluoroantimonate (OPPI) as a photoinitiator, in combination with camphorquinone/amine photoinitiation systems, for use with di(meth)acrylate-based composite resins. The investigation determined if the inclusion of OPPI improved degree and rate of conversion, initial color and color stability of a representative composite resin dental material. METHODS: Camphorquinone (CQ) and OPPI were combined in various proportions with the amine co-initiator 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and used at two levels in which CQ + OPPI + DMAEMA = 1 wt.% or 3 wt.% to photoinitiate a BisGMA/BisEMA/TEGDMA (37.5:37.5:25 wt.%) monomer blend.A total of eight groups (four groups for each level of total photoinitiator, 1% and 3%) were tested according to the following proportion of components in the photoinitiator system: Group C: CQ only. Group CO: CQ + OPPI (1:2). Group CA: CQ + DMAEMA (1:2). Group COA: CQ + OPPI + DMAEMA (1:1:1). Each monomer was polymerized using a quartz-halogen curing unit (Demetron 400, Demetron Research Corp., Danbury, CT) with an intensity of 400 mW/cm2 for 5 s, 20 s, 40 s, 60 s, 300 s and their conversion levels (DC) were determined at each exposure time using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR).To examine color stability, experimental composite resins were made by mixing 3.2% silanated barium glass (78 wt.%, average filler size; 1 microm) with each monomer system, except both CQ only group and 1% CO group, which were found to cure insufficiently to be able to prepare useful specimens. Disk-shaped samples (10 mm in diameter and 1.5 mm in thickness) were made and stored under the conditions of dry or saline solution at room temperature (25 degrees C) or 60 degrees C water bath. Each CIELAB scale was determined with a colorimeter (CHROMA METER CR-400) at the time of baseline (day after curing), 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks later. RESULTS: The high level (3%) photoinitiated groups exhibited greater DC than the low level (1%) groups. In the 3% group, the COA group showed the fastest and the highest DC, while in the 1% group the CA and COA groups showed the greatest DC.In the color stability test, both CA groups were darker and more yellow than the CO and COA groups. Color was more stable in composite resins containing OPPI than those containing only the CQ and amine components. The least color change (greatest color stability) was found using 25 degrees C saline solution aging, and the most change (least color stability) occurred using 60 degrees C dry air aging. SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests that OPPI can be used to replace the amine in a given CQ/amine photoinitiator system to accelerate cure rate, increase conversion, reduce initial color and increase color stability.

Preparation, characterization, and modeling of α-zirconium phosphonates with ether-functional surfaces.

Layered α-zirconium(IV) phosphonates were prepared from novel ether-terminal alkyl phosphonic acids, providing nanoplatelets with brush-like polar surfaces. The precursor materials were characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The derived nanoparticles were examined by XRD, TEM, TGA, and elemental analysis. The experimental compositions were slightly rich in organophosphorus content. In general, the layered materials had good crystallinity, with layer reflections appearing up to (005) and d-spacings consistent with the anticipated α-phase structure. Computer simulations suggest that tailored surface chemistries, including ether functionalities, will offer favorable thermodynamic interactions with polyester polymer matrices.

Synthesis of low-shrinkage polymerizable methacrylate liquid-crystal monomers.

As a part of the continuous pursuit to develop an ideal resinous dental restorative material for use in large posterior cavity restorations, this article reports the easy, high-yield synthesis and the incredibly low polymerization shrinkage property of a new bifunctional liquid crystal (LC) monomer. This new polymerizable nematic liquid crystal is the next higher homolog of the acrylate monomer reported in a previous work.1 It remains liquid crystalline between room and mouth temperatures and can be polymerized to isotropic polymer with the use of the same visible light inhibitor system as used with conventional monomers. The structure of this new monomer has been confirmed to be 2-(t-butyl), 1,4-bis-[4-(6-methacryloxy-hexan-1-oxy)-benzoyloxy]-benzene. Unlike the synthesis of its acrylate homolog, when the same procedure is adopted for the synthesis of this compound, the recovery of the product is not split by a sizable amount of the by-product. Therefore, the reaction is cleaner, with high yield and a less labor-intensive purification procedure. Thus, the synthetic methodology has the potential for easy commercial scale-up. The monomer (V) polymerizes at room temperature with a shrinkage of about 2 vol %, as compared to > 8 vol % for conventional control (GTE), at similar degrees of conversion.

Synthesis of low-shrinkage polymerizable liquid-crystal monomers.

Polymerization shrinkage remains a major barrier to the universal use of resin restorative in large posterior cavity preparations. A new bifunctional liquid crystal (LC) monomer, 2-(t-butyl), 1,4-bis-[4-(6-acryloxy-hexane-1-oxy)-benzoyloxy] benzene, with exceptionally low polymerization shrinkage, has recently been discovered. The purpose of this communication is to report a new, easy, high-yield synthetic route to synthesize this compound in comfortable larger batches. Synthetic and isolation details, chemical characteristics, and the polymerizable properties of a new structurally related by-product monomer, namely, 2-(t-butyl),1-[4-(6-acryloxy-hexane-1-oxy)-benzoyloxy], 4-[4-[6-(3-acryl oxy-propionoxy)-hexane-1-oxy]-benzoyloxy]-benzene, is also reported. The structural confirmation of this by-product indicates that it resulted from the Michael-type addition of acrylate ion on one of the terminal acryloxy groups of 2-(t-butyl), 1,4-bis-[4-(6-acryloxy-hexane-1-oxy)-benzoyloxy] benzene. The by-product itself, as well as the natural blend of the aforesaid both products as formed in the reaction mixture, also polymerized at room temperature with lesser volume shrinkage as compared to the conventional control (GTE) at similar degrees of conversion.

Growth of calcium phosphate on poling treated ferroelectric BaTiO3 ceramics.

Barium titanate (BaTiO3; BTO) is ferroelectric and piezoelectric after poling treatment. In this study, the bioactivity of BTO was investigated after a poling treatment by examining the formation of crystal growth on specimen surfaces in vitro. Negatively charged BTO surfaces showed calcium phosphate (Ca-P) crystal growth, while deposition of sodium chloride was observed on the positively charged BTO surfaces. After 30 days immersion in Eagle's MEM, the thickness of Ca-P crystal on negatively charged BTO surfaces increased to 0.8-0.9 microm. These data indicate that incorporating selectively polarized BTO on implant surfaces is a promising means for improving the bioactivity of implant materials.

Collagen and bone viscoelasticity: a dynamic mechanical analysis.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of changes in Type I collagen on the viscoelasticity of bone. Bone coupons were heated at either 100 or 200 degrees C to induce the thermal denaturation of Type I collagen. Half of these specimens were rehydrated after heat treatment; the other half were tested in a dry condition. The degree of denatured collagen (DC%) was analyzed by a selective digestion technique with the use of alpha-chymotrypsin. Isothermal (37 degrees C) and variable temperature tests (scans from 35 to 200 degrees C) were performed with the use of a dynamic mechanical analyzer to evaluate changes in bone viscoelastic properties as a function of collagen damage, specifically, changes in the loss factor (tan delta) and storage modulus (E') were assessed. Significant collagen denaturation occurred only when bone was heated at 200 degrees C irrespective of the hydration condition. Also, DC% did not show a significant effect on tan delta. However, higher values of tan delta were observed in wet samples compared to dry specimens. The temperature-scan tests revealed that the hydration condition, but not DC%, significantly affected the behavior of tan delta. However, E' was not strongly influenced either by DC% or by water content. These results suggest that at a constant frequency the denaturation of collagen triple-helical molecules may have few effects on the viscoelasticity of bone, but moisture may play a prominent role in determining this property.