Peptide Dimethacrylate Additives for Dental Composites

描述（由申请人提供）：当前牙科复合材料中的聚合物基体在暴露于固化光期间和之后迅速变形并积累应力。吸附在树脂基体中的应力导致材料在使用过程中更容易受到损伤和最终失效。本研究的目的是开发一种基于甲基丙烯酸酯的牙科树脂的仿生添加剂，以减少或消除对树脂基质的早期损伤。我们将开发和评估一系列以甲基丙烯酸酯基团终止的肽，但在固化时为较硬的聚合物链提供灵活而强大的“减震器”。这种添加剂可以大大增加复合恢复剂的使用寿命，并有可能扩大它们的应用范围。据我们所知，这种方法以前从未被尝试过。灵感来自大自然构建生物材料的方式：柔性增强（抗断裂性和韧性）与坚硬的矿物成分（耐久性和磨损性）相结合。减小内部收缩应力和断裂扩展的意义是巨大的。我们的方法使用与商业复合材料相同的二甲基丙烯酸酯，但增加了肽链以减少应力和断裂。这种仿生方法提供了额外的优势。我们可以设计各种元素的肽序列，以实现聚合物和复合材料的必要特性。这是首次对甲基丙烯酸酯基复合材料的质量和性能特性进行这种程度的控制。设计可以根据特定的生物条件和机械环境进行定制。实现这些目标的研究途径包括化学建模、定向合成、反应表征以及通过临床相关方法进行的物理/机械测试。该研究团队在跨学科的基础上，却紧紧聚焦。K.V. Kilway贡献了合成和物理有机专业知识；A.J.霍尔德贡献的经验，模拟聚合物反应；W.G. Gutheil提供了合成肽的能力；R.L. Sakaguchi贡献了材料测试专业知识和设备，以及在牙科修复材料的实际问题上的重要经验和知识。本文提出的工作是开发一种具有更好性能和行为的新型牙科修复体的第一步。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The polymer matrix in current dental composites deforms rapidly and accumulates stresses during and immediately after exposure to the curing light. Stresses trapped in the resin matrix result in more susceptibility to damage and ultimate failure during function. The purpose of this research is to develop a biomimetic additive for methacrylate-based dental resins that will reduce or eliminate early damage to the resin matrix. We will develop and evaluate a series of peptides that will be terminated with methacrylate groups, yet provide a flexible and strong "shock absorber" for stiffer polymer chains as they solidify. Such an additive could substantially increase the life of composite restoratives and potentially expand the applications in which they are used. This approach has never before, to our knowledge, been tried. The inspiration is the way that nature builds biomaterials: flexible reinforcements (for fracture resistance and toughness) coupled to a hard mineral component (for durability and wear). The significance for internal reduction of shrinkage stress and fracture propagation is enormous. Our approach uses the same dimethacrylates used in commercial composites but adds a peptide linkage to reduce stress and fracture. This biomimetic approach offers additional advantages. We can design peptide sequences of various elements to achieve the necessary characteristics of the polymer and composite. This is the first time that this level of control has been available for modifying the qualities and performance characteristics of methacrylate-based composites. Designs might be customized for particular biological conditions and mechanical environments. The research route to these objectives includes chemical modeling, directed synthesis, reaction characterization, and physical/mechanical testing by clinically relevant methods. The research team in interdisciplinary, but tightly focused. K.V. Kilway contributes synthetic and physical organic expertise; A.J. Holder contributes experience in modeling polymer reactions; W.G. Gutheil provides the capability to synthesize the peptides; and R.L. Sakaguchi contributes materials testing expertise and equipment as well as significant experience and knowledge of practical problems in dental restorative materials. The work proposed here is the first step in developing a new class of new class of dental restoratives with much better performance and behavior.