Peptide Dimethacrylate Additives for Dental Composites

描述(申请人提供)：目前牙科复合材料中的聚合物基质在暴露于固化光期间和之后迅速变形并积累应力。滞留在树脂基质中的应力导致在使用过程中更容易损坏和最终失效。这项研究的目的是开发一种用于甲基丙烯酸酯类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害。我们将开发和评估一系列将以甲基丙烯酸酯基团终止的多肽，但在固化时为更坚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延长复合修复剂的使用寿命，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。灵感来自于大自然建造生物材料的方式：柔性增强材料(用于抗断裂和韧性)与硬质矿物成分(用于耐用性和耐磨性)相结合。这对内部减小收缩应力和裂纹扩展具有重要意义。我们的方法使用商业复合材料中使用的相同的二甲基丙烯酸酯，但增加了多肽连接以减少应力和断裂。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多肽序列，以达到聚合物和复合材料的必要特性。这是第一次可以利用这种控制水平来改变甲基丙烯酸酯基复合材料的质量和性能特征。设计可以针对特定的生物条件和机械环境进行定制。达到这些目标的研究路线包括化学建模、定向合成、反应表征和临床相关方法的物理/力学测试。研究团队是跨学科的，但工作重点很紧。K.V.Kilway贡献了合成和物理有机专业知识；A.J.Holder贡献了聚合物反应建模经验；W.G.Gutheil提供了合成多肽的能力；R.L.Sakaguchi贡献了材料测试专业知识和设备，以及关于牙科修复材料实际问题的丰富经验和知识。这项工作是开发具有更好性能和行为的新型牙科修复剂的第一步。

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.