Investigating the mechanical and antimicrobial of denture base resin containing copper oxide nanoparticles

¹ Laboratory of mechanics materials and processes, National high school of engineering of Tunis, University of Tunisia, 5 rue Taha Hussien Monfleury, 1089 Tunis Bab Alleoua, Tunis, Tunisia
² Higher Institute of Technological Studies of Nabeul, Mrezgua Campus - 8000 Nabeul, Tunisia.
³ Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies -El-Manar, University of El-Manar, B.P 244, Tunis 2092, Tunisia.
⁴ Composite Materials and Clay Minerals Laboratory, National Center of Research in Material Sciences, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
⁵ Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, National Center of Research in Biotechnology, Borj Cédria, 901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, BP, Tunisia

Abstract

This paper reviews recent trends in restorative dentistry and discusses nanoparticle doped polymethyl methacrylate as a nanocomposite material. The concept is based on the provision of copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized then incorporated into polymethyl methacrylate resin matrices offered to dentists for fabricating multifunctional nanocomposites. Surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy/electron dispersive spectroscopy, SEM-EDS. When tensile tests were conducted, results regarding mechanical properties obtained for these nanocomposites were listed. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized NPs was later evaluated. Microstructural studies carried out by SEM/EDS confirmed good dispersion of the NPs in the PMMA matrix. Mechanical testing indicated that the addition of CuO nanoparticles to PMMA resin increased tensile strength by 79.5 percent. This finding proves that the nanocomposite PMMA/CuO material can surmount the mechanical limitation of traditional dental restorative materials. Antimicrobial assays express the successful antimicrobial activity exerted by synthesized nanoparticles of CuO. Indeed, the combination of mechanical and antibacterial behaviour allows paving the way for more effective and longer-lasting dental restorative solutions.