# Boron Nitride Nanosheets to Enhance Dental Composite Performance

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · 2020 · $427,105

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
In order to improve the performance and durability of current dental restorative composites, we will develop a
novel boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS)-based filler system. Similar to graphene, exfoliated hexagonal boron
nitride yields single- or few-layer BNNSs with useful advantages. Like graphene, BNNSs with narrow size
distributions have been observed to self-assemble into colloidal liquid crystals that are extremely strong and
light, wear resistant, and chemically stable. The lamellar organization of BNNSs as a filler in dental composites
would reduce composite viscosity, increase overall filler loading, make the composite shear-thinning, and
enhance handling properties and composite placement. BNNSs also have very low coefficient of friction that
would reduce composite wear rate. They can act as an optical conduit (depending on orientation) to guide and
distribute photon energy during cure and potentially increase depth of cure. They are hydrophobic and can
impart hydrophobicity to the composite and protect it from degradation. They can form lamellar layers that
could act as water barriers. Finally, unlike graphene, BNNSs (aka “white graphene”) are less expensive to
manufacture and are transparent and colorless, so they have promise as fillers in esthetic composites. The
significance of these features is that they should result in substantially increased composite longevity.
We have developed novel methods for exfoliating, concentrating, and surface treating BNNSs for use in
nanocomposites. These BNNSs were functionalized with oxiranes and incorporated into Oxirane/Acrylate
interpenetrating network resin System (OASys) composites (developed under a separate NIH U01 grant).
Even at the very low concentration of 0.5 wt%, BNNSs made with an unoptimized exfoliation method,
significantly enhanced composite modulus, reduced viscosity, increased compatibility of the hydrophobic
fluorinated monomer in the composite, and increased composite translucency. As such, we will further optimize
the BNNS exfoliation method and explore the properties that BNNSs could impart on a more common
conventional dental composite system at much higher loadings.
Four specific aims are proposed: 1) To determine the effects of BNNS exfoliation, loading and orientation on
composite total filler loading, curing, physical and optical properties. 2) To determine the biocompatibility of
BNNS-loaded composites following the ISO 7405 and ISO 10993 series for pre-clinical biocompatibility
evaluation of medical devices. Composites from Aim 1 with clinically acceptable properties will be tested in the
following aims. 3) To determine the effects of BNNS concentration and orientation on composite static and
time-dependent mechanical properties, including fracture toughness and three-body wear. 4) To determine the
effect of BNNS concentration on biofilm formation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10214980
- **Project number:** 1R56DE029457-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** KYUMIN WHANG
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $427,105
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10214980

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10214980, Boron Nitride Nanosheets to Enhance Dental Composite Performance (1R56DE029457-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10214980. Licensed CC0.

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