Nitrogen doped titanium dioxide as an aesthetic antimicrobial filler in dental polymers

Ahmad Fauzi NA 1 , Ireland AJ 2 , Sherriff M 2 , Bandara HMHN 3 , Su B 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Department, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Child Dental Health, Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, United Kingdom
  • 2 Child Dental Health, Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, United Kingdom
  • 3 Oral Microbiology, Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, United Kingdom
  • 4 Biomaterials Engineering, Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: b.su@bristol.ac.uk
Dent Mater, 2021 Nov 23.
PMID: 34836699 DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.10.019

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To develop an aesthetic resin composite using a nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (NTiO2) filler that possesses antimicrobial properties against cariogenic bacteria.

METHODS: N-TiO2 powder was manufactured by calcining commercial TiO2 with urea. Free radical release from the N-TiO2 powder under visible light irradiation was analysed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The N-TiO2 powder was incorporated into a dental resin and the photocatalytic activity assessed using a dye under both visible light and dark conditions. Using XTT assay to measure the cellular metabolic activity, the antibacterial properties of the N-TiO2 /resin composite discs were tested using Streptococcus mutans.

RESULTS: Doping nitrogen of TiO2 resulted in a band gap shift towards the visible light spectrum, which enabled the powder to release reactive oxygen species when exposed to visible light. When incorporated into a dental resin, the N-TiO2/resin composite still demonstrated sustained release of reactive oxygen species, maintaining its photocatalytic activity and showing an antibacterial effect towards Streptococcus mutans under visible light conditions.

SIGNIFICANCE: N-TiO2 filled resin composite shows great promise as a potential aesthetic resin based adhesive for orthodontic bonding.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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