Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate remineralisation and its effect on microtensile bond-strength of artificially induced caries affected dentin (CAD) when treated with a commercial universal adhesive modified with poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM) loaded mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (A-PMBG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBG) were synthesised using sol-gel process, where PAMAM was loaded (P-MBG) and added to commercial adhesive at different weight percentages (0.2, 0.5, 1 and 2 wt%). First, rheological properties of commercial and modified adhesives were evaluated. The effect of remineralization/hardness and microtensile bond-strength (MTBs) of those samples that mimicked the rheological properties of commercial adhesives were evaluated using Vickers hardness tester and universal testing machine respectively. Scanning-Electron microscope was used to visualize failed samples of MTBs and remineralization samples. Both evaluations were carried out at 1-,3 and 6-month intervals, samples being stored in stimulated salivary fluid during each time interval. RESULTS: Addition of nanoparticles altered the rheological properties. With increase in the weight percentage of nanoparticles in commercial adhesive, there was significant increase in degree of conversion, viscosity and sedimentation rate (p < 0.05). The 0.2 and 0.5 wgt% groups closely mimicked the properties of commercial adhesive and were evaluated for remineralization and MTBs. After 6 months, 0.2wgt% group showed increased MTBs (p < 0.05) and 0.5wgt% group increased remineralization/hardness (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The complex of PAMAM-MBG-Universal adhesive can remineralize the demineralised CAD thereby improving its bond-strength when evaluated for up to 6-months.