Fabrication and characterization of PMMA denture base nanocomposite reinforced with hydroxyapatite and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) is still one of the most popular denture base materials in dentistry due to its superior mechanical properties. However, its long-term use can result in defects such as low flexural strength and brittleness, which can be addressed by strengthening its mechanical properties. In this study, the effect of adding non-modified and modified hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HaP NPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the thermal and mechanical properties of PMMA denture base materials was investigated. First, the modified HaP (MHaP) NPs and modified MWCNTs (MMWCNTs) were prepared by a vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) agent. Then, two-component PMMA-HaP/MHaP and PMMA-MWCNT/MMWCNT, and three-component PMMA-HaP/MHaP-MWCNT/MMWCNT composite samples were fabricated from commercial dental heatcuring acrylic resin (Acrosun) with different amounts of HaP/MHaP (3, 5, and 10 wt%) and MWCNT/ MMWCNT (0.25, 0.5, and 1 wt%). The samples were investigated by Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA), Xray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and Three-point flexural test. It was observed that surface modification of NPs improved the interaction of NPs and polymer chains in the matrix and resulted in better mechanical properties of nanocomposites. In the sample containing 3 wt% MHaP and 0.25 wt% MMWCNT, the flexural strength and flexural modulus were increased by 45 % and 42 % compared to the control sample, respectively, and the glass transition temperature (Tg) based on the DMA test was 152.7 degrees C, which was higher than in the other samples. The results of MTT assay studies indicated that adding MHaP and MMWCNT enhanced cell viability. In the PMMA- 3 wt% MHaP- 0.25 wt% MMWCNT composite, the cell viability was increased to 153.75 +/- 9.7 % and confirmed its biocompatibility properties.