Effect of titanium dioxide nanotubes on the mechanical and antibacterial properties of the low-viscosity bulk-fill composite

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the impact of titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO₂-n) on the mechanical and antibacterial properties of bulk-fill composite resin. TiO₂-n were synthesized in laboratory conditions using the hydrothermal method. Varying amounts of TiO₂-n were included in the bulk-fill composite resin. Microhardness, surface roughness, and the three-point bending test were used to determine the mechanical properties of the composite. After the flexural strength test, the fractured surfaces of the composite resin were examined with a high-resolution scanning electron microscope. The antibacterial activity of Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) and Lactobacillus Casei (L.casei) was assessed using a direct contact test. The statistical examination was completed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22. Group differences were compared using the Kruskal Wallis and Dunn tests (p < 0.05). The addition of TiO₂-n did not change the roughness of the bulk-fill composites (p > 0.05). Adding 0.5% and 1% TiO₂-n increased the microhardness of the bulk-fill composite (p < 0.05). Adding TiO₂-n did not change the three-point bending results of the bulk-fill composite (p > 0.05). Though adding TiO₂-n did not have an antibacterial impact on S.mutans (p > 0.05), adding 0.5% TiO₂-n produced an antibacterial impact on L.casei in daylight (p < 0.05). The addition of 0.5% and 1% TiO₂-n increased the microhardness of the top surface of the bulk-fill composite without negatively affecting surface roughness or the composite’s three-point bending properties Adding 0.5% TiO₂-n to the composite resin produced an antibacterial impact on L.casei in daylight.

Keywords:

• TiO₂-n
• nanotube
• bulk-fill composite resin
• three-point bending
• microhardness
• surface roughness

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Yıldız Technical University Advanced Materials Research Group (YTU-AMRG) for all contributions that are made in the course of the study. Many thanks to Assistant Professor Sevilay Karahan for her help with statistical analyses.A part of this study has been presented in 10th Cons Euro 2021 and was published in Clinical Oral Investigations vol 25, pages 4185-4238 (2021). Hence, this study should be considered as a continuation of the authors previous conference proceedings.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no patented, monetary, or other personal interest of any nature or type in any product, service, and/or company that is presented in this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Bezmialem Vakıf University Scientific Research Projects Unit (11.2018/13, 12.2018/10). The funders had no role in the design, conduction, evaluation or interpretation of the study, or in writing the manuscript. The authors do not have any financial interest in the companies whose materials are included in this article.