The aims of this study were to improve the mechanical and chemical properties of conventional restorative glass ionomer cement (GIC) by adding hydroxyapatite (HAp) preparations with different characteristics, and to investigate the underlying reaction mechanisms. Fuji IX GP ® was used as the control GIC. The experimental GICs consisted of four HAp-particles with different characteristics added at 8 mass% to Fuji IX-powder. All cements were prepared by mixing with Fuji IX-liquid (P/L=3.6). Four HApparticles were analyzed, and then the mechanical strengths and the fluoride-ion-release-recharge-behaviors of five GIC groups were evaluated. The results of this study demonstrate that the addition of HAp particles with highly reactive properties such as high specific surface area can enhance the flexural strength and fluoride ion release properties of conventional restorative GIC. Our results further indicate that HAp functions as an adsorbent and an ion exchangeable agent, resulting in improved mechanical and chemical properties of GIC.
Chemical modification of gelatin using epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) promotes bone formation in vivo. However, further improvements are required to increase the mechanical strength and bone-forming ability of fabricated EGCG-modified gelatin sponges (EGCG-GS) for practical applications in regenerative therapy. In the present study, we investigated whether vacuum heating-induced dehydrothermal cross-linking of EGCG-GS enhances bone formation in critical-sized rat calvarial defects. The bone-forming ability of vacuum-heated EGCG-GS (vhEGCG-GS) and other sponges was evaluated by micro-computed tomography and histological staining. The degradation of sponges was assessed using protein assays, and cell morphology and proliferation were verified by scanning electron microscopy and immunostaining using osteoblastic UMR106 cells in vitro. Four weeks after the implantation of sponges, greater bone formation was detected for vhEGCG-GS than for EGCG-GS or vacuum-heated gelatin sponges (dehydrothermal cross-linked sponges without EGCG). In vitro experiments revealed that the relatively low degradability of vhEGCG-GS supports cell attachment, proliferation, and cell–cell communication on the matrix. These findings suggest that vacuum heating enhanced the bone forming ability of EGCG-GS, possibly via the dehydrothermal cross-linking of EGCG-GS, which provides a scaffold for cells, and by maintaining the pharmacological effect of EGCG.
This present study investigated the effects of the addition of hydroxyapatite (HA) on the flexural strength and microstructure of conventional GIC, and its effect on the cement's initial flexural strength at different storage conditions. Specimens were fabricated by mixing HA in whisker or granule form into commercially prepared GIC, and these were subjected to a threepoint bending test and SEM observations. Some specimens were stored in different conditions from dry to wet for 15 minutes to an hour prior to testing. When compared to the control, specimens with 16-25% HA whiskers added at P/L 1.75 showed a significant increase in the flexural strength (p<0.05), and as well with 19% HA whiskers at P/L 1.75 (p<0.001) and 2.33 (p<0.05). A significant increase was also noted for those with 8-25% HA granules added at P/L's 1.75 (p<0.05), 2.5 (p<0.05) and 3.60 (p<0.01). The addition of HA hastens the development of early (15min, 1 hour) flexural strength of GIC in moist or wet conditions. These results indicate that the addition of HA, regardless of form, improve the flexural and microstructural properties of GIC.
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