The Effects of the Incorporation of Nano-Hydroxyapatite on Physico-Chemical Properties of Calcium-Enriched Mixed Cement

TL;DR

Adding nano-hydroxyapatite to a dental cement improves its strength and pH, which could enhance its performance in dental treatments.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that adding 5% nano-hydroxyapatite improves the physico-chemical properties of Calcium-Enriched Mixed Cement.

Findings

Adding 5% nano-hydroxyapatite increased initial setting time and compressive strength after 24 hours.

Incorporating 5% and 10% nano-hydroxyapatite significantly enhanced the pH of the cement.

The improved pH may enhance the antimicrobial properties of the cement.

Abstract

Calcium-enriched mixed (CEM) cement, though beneficial in endodontic applications, requires improvements in its physico-chemical properties to enhance clinical outcomes.

This study was conceptualized to investigate the impact of incorporating nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) on the physico-chemical properties of CEM cement.

In this experimental study, nHAP powder at 5 and 10 wt% ratio was thoroughly mixed with CEM cement powder. Then they were mixed with a ratio of 1 g of powder to 0.33g of liquid and placed in special molds
for each test. CEM cement without nHAP was used as a control sample. Samples were assessed for setting time, compressive strength, solubility, and pH.

According to our results, the addition of 5% nHAP significantly increased the initial setting time (S1) and compressive strength after 24 hours, while the addition of 5% and 10% nHAP significantly enhanced the pH of the CEM cement.

Incorporation of 5% nHAP to CEM cement, although delayed S1 of this cement, but increased the pH level of CEM cement, which in turn could potentially improve the antimicrobial properties of CEM cement.
Furthermore, the addition of 5% nHAP to CEM cement notably improved the compressive strength in the short term, which can be beneficial in withstanding the chewing forces after applying the cement in the oral environment. It is recommended to select an appropriate concentration of nHAP to optimize the properties of CEM cement based on the findings of this study.