Experimental toothpastes containing ß-TCP nanoparticles functionalized with fluoride and tin to prevent Erosive Tooth Wear.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to synthesize toothpastes containing Beta- TriCalcium Phosphate (ß-TCP) nanoparticles, functionalized with fluoride and tin, and test their ability to reduce erosive tooth wear (ETW). METHODS: Toothpastes were synthesized with the following active ingredients: 1100 ppm of fluoride (as sodium fluoride, F-), 3500 ppm of tin (as stannous chloride, Sn2+), and 800 ppm of ß-TCP (Sizes a - 20 nm; and b - 100 nm). Enamel specimens were randomly assigned into the following groups (n = 10): 1. Commercial toothpaste; 2. Placebo; 3 F-; 4. F- + ß-TCPa; 5. F- + ß-TCPb; 6. F- + Sn2+; 7. F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPa and 8. F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPb. Specimens were subjected to erosion-abrasion cycling. Surface loss (in µm) was measured by optical profilometry. Toothpastes pH and available F- were also assessed. RESULTS: Brushing with placebo toothpaste resulted in higher surface loss than brushing with F- (p = 0.005) and F- + ß-TCPb (p = 0.007); however, there was no difference between F- and F- + ß-TCPb (p = 1.00). Commercial toothpaste showed no difference from Placebo (p = 0.279). The groups F-, F- + ß-TCPa, F- + ß-TCPb, F- + Sn2+, F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPa and F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPb were not different from the commercial toothpaste (p > 0.05). Overall, the addition of ß-TCP reduced the amount of available fluoride in the experimental toothpastes. The pH of toothpastes ranged from 4.97 to 6.49. CONCLUSIONS: Although toothpaste containing ß-TCP nanoparticles protected enamel against dental erosion-abrasion, this effect was not superior to the standard fluoride toothpaste (commercial). In addition, the functionalization of ß-TCP nanoparticles with fluoride and tin did not enhance their protective effect. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although ß-TCP nanoparticles have some potential to control Erosive Tooth Wear, their incorporation into an experimental toothpaste appears to have a protective effect that is similar to a commercial fluoride toothpaste.

Novel resin-based material containing ß-tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles for the reduction of dentin permeability.

OBJECTIVES: To synthesize and characterize a novel dentin adhesive containing Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate (ß-TCP) nanoparticles and test its ability to reduce dentin permeability (dP). METHODS: Experimental adhesives were prepared by mixing Bis-GMA, TEGDMA, HEMA (50/25/25 wt.%), photo-initiators, and inhibitors. The following groups were tested: Experimental adhesives without ß-TCP (Exp.); with 10 wt.% ß-TCP (Exp.10 wt.% ß-TCP); with 15 wt.% ß-TCP (Exp.15 wt.% ß-TCP), Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SBMP) and Clearfil SE Protect Bond (CFPB). Degree of conversion (DC%, 10 and 20 s); Flexural Strength (FS), Knoop Hardness (KHN), and Cell Viability (OD%) tests were performed. dP was evaluated by hydraulic conductance, using human dentin disks (n=12), at three-time intervals: post-EDTA (T0); post-treatment (T1); and post-erosion/abrasion cycling (T2). Data were statistically analyzed (α=0.05). RESULTS: For all groups, exposure time for 20 s presented a higher DC% than for 10 s. For FS, filled adhesives did not differ from unfilled and from CFPB. Experimental adhesives did not differ among them and showed lower KHN than the commercial products. Cell viability did not differ among adhesives, except Exp. 15 wt.%, which showed lower OD% than Exp., Exp. 10% and, CFPB. For dP, only Exp.10 and 15 wt.% ß-TCP did not present difference between the times T1 and T2. After cycling, Exp.10 wt.% ß-TCP presented lower permeability than Exp. and CFPB. CONCLUSIONS: The incorporation of 10 wt.% ß-TCP nanoparticles into the resin-based dental material did not affect its mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and promoted the greatest reduction in dentin permeability, sustaining this effect under erosive/abrasive challenges. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A novel resin-based dental material containing ß-TCP nanoparticles was able to reduce dentin permeability, maintaining its efficacy after erosive/abrasive challenges. The synthesized material did not affect dental pulp cell viability and might be promising for other conditions that require dental remineralization, such as tooth wear and dental caries.

Lanthanide-based ß-Tricalcium Phosphate Upconversion Nanoparticles as an Effective Theranostic Nonviral Vectors for Image-Guided Gene Therapy.

Lanthanide-based beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) upconversion nanoparticles are exploited as a non-viral vector for imaging guided-gene therapy by virtue of their unique optical properties and multi-modality imaging ability, high transfection efficiency, high biocompatibility, dispersibility, simplicity of synthesis and surface modification. Ytterbium and thulium-doped ß-TCP nanoparticles (ßTCPYbTm) are synthesized via co-precipitation method, coated with polyethylenimine (PEI) and functionalized with a nuclear-targeting peptide (TAT). Further, in vitro studies revealed that the nanotheranostic carriers are able to transfect cells with the plasmid eGFP at a high efficiency, with approximately 60% of total cells producing the fluorescent green protein. The optimized protocol developed comprises the most efficient ßTCPYbTm/PEI configuration, the amount and the order of assembly of ßTCPYbTm:PEI, TAT, plasmid DNA and the culturing conditions. With having excellent dispersibility and high chemical affinity toward nucleic acid, calcium ions released from ßTCPYbTm:PEI nanoparticles can participate in delivering nucleic acids and other therapeutic molecules, overcoming the nuclear barriers and improving the transfection efficacy. Equally important, the feasibility of the upconversion multifunctional nanovector to serve as an effective contrast agent for imaging modality, capable of converting low-energy light to higher-energy photons via a multi-photons mechanism, endowing greater unique luminescent properties, was successfully demonstrated.

Novel fluoride and stannous -functionalized ß-tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles for the management of dental erosion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-erosive effect of solutions containing ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) nanoparticles functionalized with fluoride or with fluoride plus stannous on enamel and dentin. METHODS: ß-TCP nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Sixty enamel and dentin specimens were randomly allocated into the groups (n = 10): Control (water); F (NaF, 225 ppm F-); F + Sn (NaF + SnCl2, 800 ppm Sn2+); F+ß-TCP (F+40 ppm ß-TCP); F + Sn+ß-TCP (F + Sn+40 ppm ß-TCP); F + Sn+100ß-TCP (F + Sn+100 ppm ß-TCP). Specimens underwent erosion-remineralization cycling (5 min immersion into 1 % citric acid solution and 60 min exposure to artificial saliva, 4×/day, 5 days). Immersion in the test solutions was performed for 2 min, 2×/day. Surface loss (SL, in µm) was determined by optical profilometry at the end of cycling. Data were analyzed using one way-ANOVA and Tukey's tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: XRD confirmed the ß-TCP phase. TEM micrographs showed differences between the bare nanoparticle and the ß-TCP functionalized with F and Sn. All enamel groups presented lower SL than the control, with F + Sn, F + Sn+ß-TCP, and F + Sn+100ß-TCP showing the lowest values. For dentin, all the groups had lower SL than the control. F+ß-TCP presented the lowest SL, significantly differing from all the other groups. CONCLUSION: ß-TCP nanoparticles functionalized with fluoride showed improved anti-erosive effect compared to the fluoride solution on dentin. There was no significant effect of the ß-TCP nanoparticles functionalized with fluoride plus stannous in both substrates. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: ß-TCP nanoparticles are a promising agent to be added to oral health products to improve the protective effect of fluoride against dentin erosion.