Evaporation strategy generated antibacterial enamel-like fluorapatite-polyacrylic acid sheet for functional dental restoration
The subject invention pertains to an evaporation strategy combined with low-molecular-weight polyacrylic acid (LPAA) to generate an antibacterial dental enamel-like structure. Polystyrene (PS) plates can be used as a removable substrate for the continuous growth of fluorapatite (FAP). The FAP-LPAA composition can be used to kill microorganisms. The LPAA contained dental enamel-like FAP provides an alternative to prevent secondary caries if a carious cavity is filled with shaped dental enamel-like FAP-LPAA.
1 . A method of synthesizing an enamel-like sheet, comprising:
i. providing a polymer plate;
ii. immersing the polymer plate in a polydopamine solution or other solutions that have phenolic hydroxyl groups at a concentration of about 2 mg/ml for at least 24 hours;
iii optionally, fixing plastic foams on the polydopamine-activated polymer plate to provide additional buoyance force for the polymer plate;
iv. placing the polymer plate in a calcification solution comprising low-molecular-weight polyacrylic acid (LPAA) and fluorapatite (FAP) Ca5(PO4)3F, ensuring a constant distance of about 3 mm from the polymer plate to the liquid surface of the calcification solution;
v. carrying out a mineralization process by incubating the system from step iv at about 70° C. for rapid evaporation and refreshing the evaporated solution by replenishing LPAA, FAP and water; and
vi. dissolving the polymer plate with a solvent to obtain the enamel-like sheet,
wherein the frequency of replenishing the solution can be determined by the evaporation rate of the solution,
wherein the mineralization time depends on the needed thickness of the enamel like sheet,
wherein the polymer plate is stable in water at 70° C. but can be dissolved by organic solvents selected from the group consisting of acetone and isoamyl acetate,
wherein in the calcification solution, the concentration of fluorine ion is 0.1-10 mmol/L, and the concentration of LPAA is about 25 mg/L,
wherein the LPAA has mass average molecular weight of 3,000.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calcification solution is replaced with new calcification solution about every 12 hours.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer plate is a polystyrene (PS) plate, a polypropylene plate, or a polymer plate.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorine ion is at a concentration of about 1.17 mmol/L.
5 . A method of reducing bacteria in the mouth of a subject, the method comprising: contacting the mouth of the subject with an effective amount of the enamel-like sheet produced by the method of claim 1 .
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising adhering the enamel-like sheet to the teeth, bone, and/or enamel of the subject.
7 . A method of replacement of decayed enamel tooth lesion sites or bone comprising:
contacting one or more teeth or bone of a subject with an effective amount of the enamel-like sheet produced by the method of claim 1 .
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising adhering the enamel-like sheet to the teeth, bone, and/or enamel of the subject.
9 . A enamel-like composition produced by the method of claim 7 .
10 . The composition of claim 9 , further comprising neutral buffered saline.
11 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the composition is orally consumable.
12 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the concentration of FAP is about 95%, and the concentration of LPAA is at about 5%.