Mechanical Properties of Resin-Based Composites Enhanced With Antimicrobial Nanoparticles

Objectives: To assess the mechanical properties of different types of resin based composites enhanced with antimicrobial Magnesium Oxide (MgO) Nanoparticles (NPs).
Methods: 450 samples were prepared and divided in 5 groups, each group (n=10) of N-Bulk fill composite, N-Ceram and N-Flow mixed with different MgO NPs concentrations (0%,0.3%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% by weight) then light cured using LED curing device. Samples were tested for micro hardness by Vickers hardness machine, and for flexure and compressive strength by Instron universal testing machine. Results were analyzed with one-way ANOVA at a significance level of p< 0.05.
Results: For Compressive strength; there was a statistically significant increase in 0.3% & 0.5% concentrations in N-Ceram. (p<0.05). An improvement was observed in values of 0.3% and 0.5% concentrations in N-Bulk fill and 0.3% concentration. In N-flow. For Flexure Strength; there was a statistical significant increase in 0.5% concentration in N-Ceram and N-Bulk fill (p<0.05). An improvement was observed in values of 0.3% in N-ceram and N-bulk fill. For Hardness; there was no statistically significant difference in all composite groups (p>0.05). However there was an improvement in the values of 0.3% & 0.5% Concentrations of all the groups
Conclusions: Incorporating the antimicrobial MgO NPs in a 0.5% concentration is optimum in improving the mechanical properties of different types of composite resin.