Antibacterial properties of nanostructured Cu-TiO2 surfaces for dental implants.

The influence of copper derived TiO2 surfaces (nCu-nT-TiO2) on the death of nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) and Escherichia coli (Ec), was investigated. TiO2 nanotube (nT-TiO2) arrays were fabricated by anodic oxidation of pure titanium sheets in fluorhydric solutions, leading to surface nanostructuration and creation of specific reactive sites. Copper nanocubes with a mean size of 20 nm have been synthesized and deposited on the nT-TiO2 surface by pulsed electrodeposition from a copper sulphate solution. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) reveals that Cu nanocubes are both inserted into the TiO2 nanotubes and on the nanotube edges. X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS) and SEM-EDX confirm the metallic nature of copper nanoparticles, covered with a thin mixed CuO-Cu2O thin layer. As the adsorption of proteins is one of the early stages of biomaterial surface interactions with body fluids before bacterial colonization, Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) in reflection-absorption mode, SEM and XPS have been used to follow the evolution of nCu-nT-TiO2 surfaces when exposed to a simulated plasma solution containing Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). Finally bacterial tests have revealed a high biocide potential of the nCu-nT-TiO2 surface, which leads to the entire death of SA and EC.

Two steps bulk-surface functionalization of nanoporous alumina by methyl and vinyl-silane adsorption. Evidence for oxide surface highly reactive sites creation.

Functionalization of a novel nanoporous monolithic alumina synthesized from amalgam is investigated. The structure is studied by X-ray diffraction, BET, MEB and IR spectroscopy, before and after chemical functionalization by trimethylethoxy silane adsorption and annealing at high temperature. These treatments retain both monolith microstructure and nanostructure while strongly improving material mechanical properties. Allyldimethoxysilane and alcohol adsorption on the annealed samples, proves that highly reactive sites are available for further polymer grafting, as demonstrated by a significant shift of allyldimethoxysilane ν(SiH) to 2,215 cm(-1) and adsorbed acetate formation. Simple quantum computations on model systems support this conclusion. Chemical processes reported in this paper, allow a nanostructured alumina monoliths functionalization to optimize ceramics-polymer bonds, and to tune new hybrid biomaterial properties.

Structure and surface reactivity of novel nanoporous alumina fillers.

Recent studies have shown that the particle size of fillers used for the reinforcement of dental resin composites should be multimodally distributed, in which micron-sized fillers are mixed with nanoparticles so as to achieve a higher filler level in the resin, and should be kept well dispersed so as to be functionalized by a silane. In this study, porous alumina monoliths with high specific surface area, measured by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, were obtained using a novel preparation method. Structure and surface reactivity have been investigated as functions of temperature and chemical treatments. The impregnation of the as-prepared material by triméthyletoxysilane (TMES) stabilized alumina with high specific surface area at higher temperature. FTIR study has described the effect of TMES treatment and temperature on the structure of the material. The use of allyldimethoxysilane (ADMS), as a probe molecule for measuring the surface reactivity, has allowed us to show that the treatment of samples with TMES and their reheating at 1300 degrees C results in adsorption sites which give stronger chemical bonds. This preliminary study has, therefore, allowed us to optimize the structural and surface treatment of experimental fillers before their use in the reinforcement of resin composites or resin-modified glass ionomer cements.

Effect of time on the flexural strength of glass ionomer and composite orthodontic adhesives.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of time on the flexural strength of a resin-reinforced glass ionomer and a composite adhesive system, specifically at three time frames corresponding to the three stages of polymerization of Fuji Ortho LC. Ten rectangular specimens of each material were prepared in a metal mold (25 x 2 x 2 mm) and then stored at 37 degrees C and 100% humidity in an incubator. Six test groups were created, in which each specimen was fractured using a 3-point-bending test at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The test results indicated that there were significant differences among the groups (P = .0001). The flexural strengths were significantly higher in the two groups (III and VI) that were fractured after seven days. This was true for both the Fuji Ortho LC (x = 77 +/- 6.1 MPa) and the Concise (x = 103.9 +/- 4.2 MPa). The flexural strength of the resin-modified glass ionomer adhesive was significantly lower than that for the composite whatever the time of fracture, 10 minutes, one hour, or seven days. The analysis of the strength-deformation curve of the group of Fuji Ortho LC, which was fractured within 10 minutes after setting (group I), showed viscoplastic behavior, whereas that of all the others groups showed elastic behavior. According to this study, clinicians must consider the mechanics of Fuji Ortho LC setting and, when this material is used, wait for at least one hour to ligate initial or repaired arch wires.