Formulation and Characterization of Biofilm-Repellent Fluoroacrylate Resin in Dental Composite

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of Fluoroacrylate monomer on biofilm-repellent characteristics of dental composite, and to investigate its effects on mechanical properties.
Methods: Octafluoropentyl methacrylate (OFPA) was added to Bis-GMA and TEGDMA resin at a OFPA/(Bis GMA-TEGDMA + OFPA)mass fractions of 0%, 3%, 7% and 10% in control and experimental groups (G1,G2,G3) respectively. The silanized silica particles (size=2um) were added to the mixture at weight percentage of 70%. Mechanical properties of resultant composite were measured in three-point flexure (10 mm span, 1 mm/min). Biofilm was grown on top of composite discs and adsorption onto the composites was measured by a micro bicinchoninic acid method. A human saliva microcosm model was used to grow biofilms on composites. Colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, live/dead assay, metabolic activity, and lactic acid production of biofilms were determined. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test (α=0.05).
Results: The composite with 7% OFPA and composite of the Control group had similar flexural strength and elastic modulus (90±23 MPa) (p≥0.1). Incorporation of 7% OFPA into dental composite led to antiprotein, antibacterial- adhesion capabilities without compromising the mechanical properties. Composite with 7% OFPA had less protein adsorption at day 4, i.e. 20±0.18% of the control composite (p < 0.05). Biofilm CFU/disk counts on composite with 7% OFPA were diminished relative to the OFPA 0% i.e. 0.33±0.026 CFU/disk of the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The novel dental composite with OFPA, greatly reduced biofilm adhesion and is promising to inhibit secondary caries and bacterial acid formation that are among the main reasons for failures of dental restorations. Preliminary study indicated that this mass fraction yielded a strong protein-repellent property without compromising mechanical properties of the resin.