title: Susceptibility of a polycaprolactone-based root canal filling material to degradation. II. Gravimetric evaluation of enzymatic hydrolysis.
abstract: Polycaprolactone is susceptible to enzymatic biodegradation via ester bond cleavage. This study examined the susceptibility of Resilon, a polycaprolactone-based root filling material to enzymatic hydrolysis. Resilon, gutta-percha, and polycaprolactone disks, prepared by compression molding, were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline, lipase PS or cholesterol esterase at 37 degrees C for 96 h. They were retrieved at different time intervals for gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The materials exhibited slight weight gains when incubated in phosphate-buffered saline that can be attributed to water sorption. Gutta-percha showed similar weight gains in the two enzymes. Conversely, Resilon and polycaprolactone exhibited extensive surface thinning and weight losses after incubation in lipase PS and cholesterol esterase. Glass filler particles in Resilon were exposed following surface dissolution of the polymer matrix, creating rough surface topography. Biodegradation of Resilon by bacterial and salivary enzymes warrants further investigation of their activities using cultures of endodontically relevant microbes and human saliva extracts.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Franklin R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pashley
authors.forename: Cynthia K Y
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.forename: Joyce Y Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Mak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yiu-fai
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Loushine
authors.forename: R Norman
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: W Frank
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Kimbrough
authors.forename: Nigel M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D013046:Specific Gravity; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011091:Polyesters; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; C486892:resilon sealer; C016240:polycaprolactone; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D002787:Sterol Esterase; D008049:Lipase