Bacteria are pivotal in the etiology of dental caries, underscoring the critical importance of effective plaque control in mitigating dental tissue diseases. Superhydrophobic materials, with their exceptional properties of non-wettability, antibacterial activity, and self-cleaning capabilities, present a promising approach for caries prevention. However, their clinical application remains constrained by challenges in achieving stable adhesion to tooth surfaces. Inspired by the natural adhesion mechanisms of acquired salivary pellicle (ASP), we synthesized Janus amphiphilic superhydrophobic nanoparticles comprising 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FOTS), nano-silica, and the enamel binding peptide DDDEEKC-Peg(2000)-COOH. These nanoparticles were engineered to form a superhydrophobic film (FOTS-SiO₂-Peptide) on tooth surfaces. Experimental analyses revealed rapid adsorption of these nanoparticles onto enamel, with their exposed surfaces creating a durable superhydrophobic layer that remained stable under diverse thermal conditions. Topical application of FOTS-SiO₂-Peptide significantly reduced the incidence and severity of dental caries while preserving oral microbiota diversity and avoiding adverse effects on surrounding mucosal tissues. Safety and efficacy evaluations confirmed the biocompatibility of these Janus nanoparticles, highlighting their potential as a novel biomedical solution for caries prevention.

To fabricate a zinc phosphate (ZnP) coating on 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal ZrO₂ polycrystal (3Y-TZP) with enhanced mechanical strength, adhesion, cytocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and osteogenic performance, this study offers a new approach for improving dental implants. The ZnP coating was synthesized on a substrate via hydrothermal treatment (150-250 ℃, 3 h) using a solution of zinc oxide, phosphoric acid, and nitric acid. The coated samples were characterized in terms of physicochemical properties, adhesion strength, flexural strength, and fracture morphology. Cellular responses, including viability, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, were assessed using CCK-8 assay, live/dead staining, phalloidin staining, alkaline phosphatase/Alizarin Red S assays, and real-time PCR. Antibacterial properties were evaluated based on colony-forming unit counts and bacterial adhesion assays in a rat subcutaneous infection model. Finally, in vivo bone formation and biosafety were analyzed by micro-computed tomography and histological examination after implantation. Increasing the hydrothermal temperature improved the coating thickness, roughness, wettability, and mechanical stability. The ZP-250 sample exhibited a 5B adhesion strength, which significantly enhanced MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, mineralization, and gene expression. Moreover, it demonstrated strong antibacterial effects against S. aureus and E. coli, promoted osseointegration, and showed full biosafety in a jaw defect model. The ZnP coating markedly improved the bioactivity of 3Y-TZP, addressing the challenge of bioinertness in dental implants. This innovation enhances long-term stability and clinical success, showing promising potential for clinical application.

Additive manufacturing offers an effective approach for fabricating biodegradable porous scaffolds that can adapt to the mechanical properties of jawbones. Zinc (Zn) and its alloys are considered promising degradable materials due to their appropriate degradation rates, favorable mechanical properties, and diverse biological functionalities. Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been shown to promote the growth of vascular endothelial cells and significantly enhance the vascularization ability of implant materials. In this study, a porous ZnO/Zn scaffold with a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure and ∼75% porosity was fabricated via binder-jetting 3D printing and subsequently sintered at 800, 900, 1000, and 1100°C. The sintered scaffold was systematically evaluated for its microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biological properties both in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that the porous ZnO/Zn scaffold contained α-Zn and ZnO phases, and with increasing sintering temperature, the α-Zn phase gradually transformed into ZnO, leading to a progressive decrease in degradation rate and Zn²⁺ release. The sintered scaffold exhibited compressive strength comparable to cancellous bone, good cytocompatibility, enhanced osteogenic and angiogenic potential in vitro, and measurable antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the scaffold effectively promoted bone integration in vivo, suggesting its potential for the repair of oral and maxillofacial bone defects, although further studies and clinical validation are required. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work reports the successful fabrication and comprehensive evaluation of a porous ZnO/Zn scaffold featuring a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure, fabricated via binder-jetting 3D printing technology, for next-generation maxillofacial bone-defect repair. Our findings demonstrated that the 75% porosity scaffold exhibits compressive strength comparable to human cancellous bone, satisfying the mechanical requirements for jawbone applications. The scaffold integrates robust biocompatibility with multifunctional bioactivity, as its composition potently promotes osteoblast viability, enhances vascular endothelial cell growth, and stimulates osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Critically, the scaffold demonstrates notable in vitro antibacterial properties and effectively promotes bone integration in vivo, positioning it as a promising degradable implant with tailored mechanical adaptation and enhanced vascularization capability for maxillofacial reconstruction.

This study aims to improve the densification and strength of additively manufactured lithium disilicate glass-ceramics (LDGCs) for dental restorations by introducing a β-spodumene-lithium metasilicate (LM)-amorphous silicon dioxide (A-SiO₂)-glass system. Precursor slurries with varying ratios of β-spodumene, LM, and A-SiO₂ were shaped using digital light processing and subsequently sintered without applied pressure. The resulting LDGC samples were systematically evaluated in terms of density, porosity, phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, fracture morphology, and molding accuracy. The combined addition of β-spodumene and LM significantly reduced porosity, promoted densification and crystallinity, and produced a uniform interlocked microstructure. In contrast, the introduction of A-SiO₂ facilitated the transformation of LM into lithium disilicate, but increased porosity and defects by impeding densification. The optimized β-spodumene/LM/glass ternary system achieved a maximum flexural strength of ∼332.5 MPa and a fracture toughness of ∼2.3 MPa·m^1/2, while exhibiting hardness and elastic modulus comparable to natural enamel. Moreover, crown manufacturing demonstrated high molding accuracy. The synergistic addition of β-spodumene and LM effectively enhances densification and strength in additively manufactured LDGCs, establishing a promising material system for high-load aesthetic restorations.