Enhanced remineralisation ability and antibacterial properties of sol-gel glass ionomer cement modified by fluoride containing strontium-based bioactive glass or strontium-containing fluorapatite

This study aimed to compare two types of bioactive additives which were strontium-containing fluorinated bioactive glass (SrBGF) or strontium-containing fluorapatite (SrFA) added to sol-gel derived glass ionomer cement (SGIC). The objective was to develop antibacterial and mineralisation properties, using bioactive additives, to minimize the occurrence of caries lesions in caries disease. Synthesized SrBGF and SrFA nanoparticles were added to SGIC at 1 wt% concentration to improve antibacterial properties against S. mutans, promote remineralisation, and hASCs and hDPSCs viability. Surface roughness and ion-releasing behavior were also evaluated to clarify the effect on the materials. Antibacterial activity was measured via agar disc diffusion and bacterial adhesion. Remineralisation ability was assessed by applying the material to demineralised teeth and subjecting them to a 14-day pH cycle, followed by microCT and SEM-EDS analysis. The addition of SrFA into SGIC significantly improved its antibacterial property. SGIC modified with either SrBGF or SrFA additives could similarly induce apatite crystal precipitation onto demineralised dentin and increase dentin density, indicating its ability to remineralise dentin. Moreover, this study also showed that SGIC modified with SrBGF or SrFA additives had promising results on the in vitro cytotoxicity of hASC and hDPSC. SrFA has superior antibacterial property as compared to SrBGF while demonstrating equal remineralisation ability. Furthermore, the modified SGIC showed promising results in reducing the cytotoxicity of hASCs and hDPSCs, indicating its potential for managing caries. ●Adding Strontium-containing fluorapatite (SrFA) in sol-gel glass ionomer cement (SGIC) improved the antibacterial property.●Adding SrFA or strontium-containing fluorapatite (SrBGF) to SGIC similarly enhanced mineralization ability.●All SGIC express promising results on the viability of human adipose-derived stem cells and human dental pulp stem cells.