Influence of Dentin Smear Layer Created by Chemo-Mechanical or Bur Excavation Methods on Adhesion of Self-Etching Primers and a Conventional Adhesive

This study evaluated the influence of chemo-mechanical or bur excavation methods on bond strength of dentin bonding agents, micromorphology of the treated-dentin surfaces, and the bonded interfaces. Smear layer-free surfaces were used as control. The methods of cavity preparation (chemo-mechanical and rotary burs) were used under specific parameters and four commercial dentin bonding agents (three two-step self-etching primers and one “etch-and-rinse” adhesive system) were applied to treated surfaces, according to manufacturers' instructions. Composite blocks were built on bonded surfaces and restored teeth were vertically, serially sectioned to obtain bonded slices for interfacial micromorphologic analysis or to produce beam specimens for micro-tensile bond testing. A clear difference of the preparation of dentin surfaces and formation of hybrid layer and resin tags are noted. The use of burs or chemo-mechanical methods did not affect the bond strength for etch-and-rinse system and for a self-etching primer with a very low pH (0.5). However, dentin surface preparations decreased the bond strength for the milder versions (pH of around 2) of self-etching adhesive systems. The manner of dentin preparation prior to bonding procedures can influence the effectiveness of some self-etching primers, which dissolve the smear layer and dentin surface only partially.     

The Structure of the Irreversibly Bound Adhesion Promoter-Substrate Interfacial Layer of γ-Aminopropylsilanetriol on Crystalline Si, as Measured by XPS and FTIR

The irreversibly bound interfacial layer deposited by the γ-aminopropysilanetriol adhesion promoter onto a crystalline silicon substrate, which remains even after profuse washing, was found by XPS to have resulted from the fragmentation and rearrangement of the original γ-aminopropylsilanetriol molecule. A mechanism is proposed, involving the homolytic scission of the terminal N-C bond. One of the subsequent reactions is believed to involve hydrogen loss by abstraction and the formation of a terminal vinyl group, which bonds to the substrate. Support for this mechanism is found in IR spectroscopy of this layer.     

Influence of a hard transition layer on the microstructure and properties of diamond-like carbon/hydroxyapatite composite coating prepared by magnetron sputtering

The nanostructured diamond-like carbon/hydroxyapatite composite coating (DLC/HA) was deposited using magnetron sputtering technique with a densely packed columnar cross-sectional structure and a uniform granular surface morphology. After heat treatment, the amorphous structure of the coating was transformed into a crystal structure. Nanohardness and scratch tests results demonstrated the DLC transition layer significantly enhanced the nanohardness of Ti6Al4V substrates from 4.8 GPa to 10.4 GPa, and increased critical load from 16.6 N (pure HA layer) to 26.5 N (DLC layer) without obvious brittle fracture, flaking and delamination. Electrochemical and immersion tests results demonstrated that DLC/HA composite coatings with a dense gradient transition interlayer had better corrosion resistance and could prevent harmful metal ions being released into the SBF solution more effectively than single HA coatings. Furthermore, active Ca²⁺ ions can be rapidly released from the coating surface during initial immersion in the SBF solution, and facilitated the formation of bone-like apatite.     

3D Printed Poly(𝜀-caprolactone)/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Comparative Study on a Composite Preparation by Melt Blending or Solvent Casting Techniques and the Influence of Bioceramic Content on Scaffold Properties

Bone tissue engineering has been developed in the past decades, with the engineering of bone substitutes on the vanguard of this regenerative approach. Polycaprolactone-based scaffolds are fairly applied for bone regeneration, and several composites have been incorporated so as to improve the scaffolds’ mechanical properties and tissue in-growth. In this study, hydroxyapatite is incorporated on polycaprolactone-based scaffolds at two different proportions, 80:20 and 60:40. Scaffolds are produced with two different blending methods, solvent casting and melt blending. The prepared composites are 3D printed through an extrusion-based technique and further investigated with regard to their chemical, thermal, morphological, and mechanical characteristics. In vitro cytocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation was also assessed with human dental pulp stem/stromal cells. The results show the melt-blending-derived scaffolds to present more promising mechanical properties, along with the incorporation of hydroxyapatite. The latter is also related to an increase in osteogenic activity and promotion. Overall, this study suggests polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite scaffolds to be promising candidates for bone tissue engineering, particularly when produced by the MB method.