# High-performance BPA-free dental restoration composites with remineralization capabilities

> **NIH NIH R41** · CALLENTIS CONSULTING GROUP LLC · 2024 · $295,689

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 The global market size for restorative dentistry is estimated to be around $20.2 billion in 2023 and expected
to grow to $36.2 billion by 2030. In the US, $2.8 billion is spent on restorative materials annually, predicted to
increase to $5.2 billion by 2030. To address such a demand, the most widely used direct placement dental
restorative materials are bisphenol A-glycidyl (meth)acrylate (Bis-GMA) resin-based composites. However, the
BPA leaching from Bis-GMA can lead to health issues like male reproductive abnormalities, heart disease, and
diabetes. In addition, these resins require utilization of reactive diluting agents to decrease their viscosity, which
leads to a significant curing shrinkage and stress, reducing longevity of the restorations. Thus, there is a strong
need to develop BPA-free alternatives with better performance than the currently used options. While significant
efforts have been made to develop BPA-free dental resins utilizing urethane (meth)acrylate monomers, none of
the proposed alternatives can significantly surpass the properties of the currently used urethane di(meth)acrylate
(UDMA). To close this gap, the PI recently invented novel urethane-based monomers, which if mixed with acidic
comonomers, reach virtually complete degrees of conversion (>98%) under ambient photocuring, and exhibit
mechanical properties 2 to 3 times better than that of the UDMA- or BisGMA-based resins. In addition to superior
modulus and strength, these resins possess notably better toughness and strain tolerance as well as low
polymerization shrinkage and stress. Such an excellent combination of properties makes them a very promising
alternative to Bis-GMA as the basis for dental composites. In Phase I, the collaborating institutions, Callentis
Consulting Group, University of Colorado, and New Mexico State University will determine feasibility of the novel
resins as high-performance BPA-free functional dental composites. Aims: 1: Narrow down the list of preselected
commercially viable composite constituents, both resin and filler components, and prepare the corresponding
samples for further tests. 2: Perform numerical modeling of the mechanical behavior of the selected resins and
their composites to determine optimal microstructures leading to the best performance, as well as uncover any
reinforcement-related issues. 3: Carry out experimental characterization of uncured resins and their composites.
4: Evaluate feasibility of the proposed material by measuring properties of cured neat resins and their optimal
composites, assessing any microstructural defects, cytotoxicity and testing remineralization potential of the
resins filled with hydroxyapatite particles. At the end of Phase I, the team will establish feasibility and commercial
viability of the proposed materials, as well as outline the optimal filler parameters to maximize the performance
of the proposed composites. Phase II will focus on comprehensive testing and refinement of the...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11007708
- **Project number:** 1R41DE033937-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** CALLENTIS CONSULTING GROUP LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** JEFFREY W. STANSBURY
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $295,689
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-19 → 2026-02-18

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11007708

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11007708, High-performance BPA-free dental restoration composites with remineralization capabilities (1R41DE033937-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11007708. Licensed CC0.

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