title: Synthesis and characterization of new composite materials based on poly(methacrylic acid) and hydroxyapatite with applications in dentistry.
abstract: The use of methacrylic acid (MAA) in medicine was poorly investigated in the past but can be of great importance because the incorporation of hydroxyapatite (HA) can lead to new composite materials with good properties due to the strong electrostatic interactions between carboxylate groups of polymer and Ca(2+) ions from HA. The scope of this study was to determine the potential of using composite materials based on poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and hydroxyapatite in dentistry. Two routes of synthesis were taken into account: i) HA was synthesised in situ and ii) commercial HA was used. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for compositional assessments. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to determine the morphology and differential thermal analysis (DTA) coupled with thermogravimetric analysis (TG) was used to study the thermal behaviour and to observe quantitative changes. In-vitro tests were also performed in order to evaluate the biocompatibility of both PMAA/HA composites by monitoring the development potential of human endothelial cells using MTT assay and fluorescent microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Politehnica University of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, 1-7 Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania. Electronic address: andrei.cucuruz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrei Tiberiu
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Cucuruz
authors.affiliation: Politehnica University of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, 1-7 Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ecaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andronescu
authors.affiliation: Politehnica University of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, 1-7 Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ficai
authors.affiliation: Politehnica University of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, 1-7 Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ilie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology "Nicolae Simionescu"of Romanian Academy, Department of Fetal and Adult Stem Cell Therapy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iordache
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003813:Dentistry / Q000379:methods; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C030613:polymethacrylic acid; D017886:Durapatite
keywords: Biocompatibility; Dental material; Hydroxyapatite; Poly(methacrylic acid)