Quercetin-loaded amine-functionalized mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles for dual protection against dentin erosion.

Abstract

Objective: To develop quercetin-loaded amine-functionalized mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (Q@AF-MBGN) for dual protection against dentin erosion via simultaneous occlusion of dentinal tubules and inhibition of organic matrix degradation.

Methods: Q@AF-MBGN was synthesized via a sol-gel method and characterized. Biocompatibility was assessed by a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and live/dead staining with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Dentin specimens (2 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm) were subjected to erosive challenge (4 cycles/d for 7 d) and then randomly distributed into 5 groups (n = 34): DW (deionized water), NaF (12.3 mg/mL sodium fluoride), Q (300 μg/mL quercetin), AF-MBGN (5.0 mg/mL AF-MBGN), and Q@AF-MBGN (5.0 mg/mL Q@AF-MBGN). Each group was treated with the corresponding solution for 2 min, followed by an additional 7-d erosion challenge. Dentinal tubule occlusion and demineralized organic matrix (DOM) preservation were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, erosive dentin loss (EDL) was quantified, and DOM preservation was measured by type I collagen C-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) release. Moreover, the tubule sealing efficacy was further confirmed through rhodamine B fluorescence penetration assays, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition was analyzed using in situ zymography. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post-hoc test were performed on the CCK-8, EDL, and ICTP data (P < 0.05).

Results: Q@AF-MBGN exhibited excellent biocompatibility (cell viability > 80 %). Effective tubule occlusion was noted in the AF-MBGN and Q@AF-MBGN groups, with the Q@AF-MBGN group exhibiting superior DOM preservation. The EDL values and ICTP release amounts were significantly lower in the Q@AF-MBGN group than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, MMP inhibition was significantly greater in the Q@AF-MBGN and Q groups than in the AF-MBGN, NaF, and DW groups.

Significance: Q@AF-MBGN is effective as a novel dual-action dentin erosion therapeutic that combines mechanical tubule occlusion with matrix protection and outperforms conventional treatments.