Biomimetic Interfacial Control in Polymer Nanocomposites

描述（由申请人提供）：常规牙科复合材料是通过在高体积分数的颗粒玻璃填料存在下原位聚合多官能单体而产生的高度填充的聚合物系统。虽然这些系统具有广泛的用途并且通常对于修复牙齿组织是有效的，但是仍然需要在机械强度、防水性、磨损和其它性能方面的显著改进。具有高纵横比的纳米颗粒填料提供了显著的强度和其他性能改进的潜力;然而，由于极高的填料基质界面面积，预计基质-填料界面的特征在此类系统中将呈现出甚至更大的突出性。因此，纳米增强牙科复合材料的新策略必须包括高度重视界面设计以及填料的形状，尺寸和组成。 在这项研究中，我们建议开发新的牙科纳米复合材料组成的二氧化钛纳米颗粒增强牙科复合材料。氧化物纳米颗粒将呈球形、棒状和片状纳米颗粒的形式。与纳米颗粒的开发并行，将探索界面控制的新方法，这些方法受到海洋粘附蛋白的启发，这些蛋白包含不寻常的氨基酸，这些氨基酸与TiO 2表面形成高强度，可逆和防水的键。这些化合物将用于设计新型交联剂和引发剂，将基质连接到具有高强度和耐水性的纳米颗粒表面。新的纳米复合材料将测试断裂强度，断裂能，吸水率，以及在水中老化对机械性能的影响。因此，这些候选牙科纳米复合材料的重要物理化学特性将在本研究中揭示，其结果将作为未来详细研究的平台，用于牙科中纳米颗粒TiO 2增强复合材料的利用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Conventional dental composites are highly filled polymer systems created by in situ polymerization of multifunctional monomers in the presence of a high volume fraction of particulate glass fillers. While these systems enjoy widespread use and are generally effective for restoring dental tissues, significant improvements in mechanical strength, water resistance, wear and other properties are still needed. Nanoparticulate fillers with high aspect ratios offer the potential for significant strength and other property improvements; however the characteristics of the matrix-filler interface are expected to assume an even greater prominence in such systems due to the extremely high filler matrix interfacial area. Thus, new strategies to nanoreinforced dental composites must include great attention to interfacial design as well as shape, size and composition of filler. In this study we propose to develop new dental nanocomposites consisting of TiO2 nanoparticle reinforced dental composites. The oxide nanoparticles will be in the form of spherical, rod-like and sheet-like nanoparticles. In parallel with nanoparticle development, new approaches to interfacial control will be explored that are inspired by marine adhesive proteins that incorporate unusual amino acids that form high strength, reversible and water resistant bonds to TiO2 surfaces. These compounds will be used to design novel cross-linking and initiating agents that link the matrix to the nanoparticle surfaces with high strength and water resistance. The new nanocomposites will be tested for fracture strength, fracture energy, water absorption, and the effect of aging in water on mechanical performance. Thus, important physicochemical properties of these candidate dental nanocomposites will be revealed during this study, with the results serving as a platform for future detailed studies toward utilization of nanoparticulate TiO2 reinforced composites in dentistry.