Modification of restorative glass ionomer cement with zinc oxide nanoparticles and calcium glycerophosphate microparticles: <i>in vitro</i> assessment of mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity

MEIRA, Maria Fernanda Cavalcante; FERNANDES, Gabriela Leal Peres; DE CAMARGO, Andréa Simone Stucchi; RAVARO, Leandro Piaggi; ARAI, Marylyn Setsuko; NAVARRO, Maria Fidela de Lima; BRIGHENTI, Fernanda Lourenção; OLIVEIRA, Analú Barros de; DANELON, Marcelle

doi:10.1590/1678-7757-2025-0356

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Original Article • J. Appl. Oral Sci. 33 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7757-2025-0356 linkcopy

Modification of restorative glass ionomer cement with zinc oxide nanoparticles and calcium glycerophosphate microparticles: in vitro assessment of mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

The incorporation of bioactive agents into resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) is a promising strategy to improve its mechanical strength and biofilm control, especially for patients with active dental caries.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating ZnONPs and CaGP into RMGIC on its mechanical and microbiological properties.

Design Six groups were tested: 1) RMGIC (without CaGP/ZnONPs); 2) RMGIC-1.0%ZnONPs; 3) RMGIC-2.0%ZnONPs; 4) RMGIC-3.0%CaGP; 5) RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-1.0%ZnONPs; and 6) RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-2.0%ZnONPs. The compressive strength (CS), diametral tensile strength (DTS), and surface hardness (SH) were evaluated after 24 hours and 7 days. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity were evaluated using agar diffusion and biofilm metabolic activity (XTT) assays.

Results After 24 hours, all the groups showed similar DTS values (p>0.05), except for RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-1.0%ZnONPs, which showed the highest DTS value (p<0.05). Comparing 24 hours and 7 days, the DTS values of RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-2.0%ZnONPs, RMGIC-3.0%CaGP, and RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-2.0%ZnONPs were similar (p=0.360). After 24 hours, the RMGIC group showed the CS highest value, followed by RMGIC-2.0%ZnONPs (p < 0.05). After 7 days, the RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-1.0%ZnONPs group exhibited the highest CS value, approximately 15% higher than RMGIC (p<0.05). The RMGIC-1.0%ZnONPs group exhibited significantly higher SH at 24 hours (p=0.621). At 7 days, the highest SH value was observed for the RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-1.0%ZnONPs group (p<0.05). Regarding antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, including results from biofilm metabolism assays, the RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-1.0%ZnONPs group demonstrated the most effective antimicrobial and inhibitory effects (p<0.05).

Conclusion This study demonstrated that adding ZnONPs and CaGP to RMGIC enhanced its mechanical and antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties, suggesting enhanced mechanical performance and improved protection against cariogenic biofilms—critical factors for successful restorative treatments. Therefore, the addition of ZnONPs and CaGP is a promising strategy to develop advanced restorative materials that improve clinical outcomes, especially for patients with active dental caries.

Keywords
Resin-modified glass ionomer cement; Phosphate; Zinc oxide nanoparticles; Biofilm; Mechanical properties

	CS	CS	DTS	DTS	SH	SH
Experimental Ionomeric Cement	MPa	MPa	MPa	MPa	KHN	KHN
Time	24 hours	7 days	24 hours	7 days	24 hours	7 days
RMGIC	166.8 (0.4)^a,A	141.9 (0.2)^a,B	13.0 (0.2)^a,A	16.1 (0.2)^a,B	56.0 (1.2)^a,A	67.9 (1.4)^a,B
RMGIC-1.0%ZnONPs	133.3 (0.5)^b,A	144.1 (0.1)^a,B	13.5 (0.1)^a,A	18.0 (0.3)^a,B	66.9 (1.7)^b,A	71.3 (0.4)^a,A
RMGIC-2.0%ZnONPs	156.1 (0.3)^c,A	146.1 (0.3)^a,B	15.8 (0.4)^a,A	14.5 (0.1)^a,A	44.0 (1.1)^c,A	66.6 (1.5)^a,B
RMGIC-3.0%CaGP	122.4 (0.2)^d,A	123.0 (0.4)^b,A	14.0 (0.1)^a,A	14.3 (0.4)^a,A	57.3 (0.4)^a,A	65.8 (0.2)^a,B
RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-1.0%ZnONPs	145.5 (0.4)^e,A	163.9 (0.2)^c,B	23.2 (0.5)^b,A	30.2 (0.1)^b,B	52.1 (0.5)^a,A	90.3 (0.4)^b,B
RMGIC-3.0%CaGP-2.0%ZnONPs	112.0 (0.1)^f,A	120.1 (0.4)^b,B	16.6 (0.2)^a,A	14.8 (0.4)^a,A	48.8 (0.6)^c,A	61.1 (0.3)^a,B

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[TFN1] Lowercase letters indicate statistical differences between the experimental ionomeric cement according to each time. Capital letters indicate differences between periods (ANOVA, Two-way –Student-Newman-Keuls, p < 0.05).