# High Performance Antimicrobial Fluoride Releasing Dental Materials

> **NIH NIH R01** · LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER · 2020 · $564,225

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The goal of this R01 proposal is to develop high-performance antimicrobial fluoride-releasing
dental materials (composite and dentin bonding agent). Secondary (recurrent) caries and bulk fracture are
the leading causes of failure of composite restorations and thus limit their service life. Much effort has been
directed towards the development of dental materials that can inhibit bacterial biofilms and reduce secondary
caries. However, the composites containing soluble anticariogenic agents or (nano)particles of ACP or CaF2
usually have poor mechanical properties. The antibacterial materials containing silver nanoparticles usually
have unacceptable dark shade. In our previous funding period (R01DE019203), we synthesized several novel
F-releasing methacrylate monomers and antibacterial monomer containing long-chain quaternary ammonium
salts (QAS). We developed a series of novel antibacterial fluoride-releasing materials (dental composites,
bonding agents and sealants). They have shown enhanced fluoride-releasing and recharge capabilities,
promising antibacterial effect, and good mechanical properties or bonding strength. However, the amount of
antibacterial monomers that could be incorporated in these materials was rather limited (~3%) thus limiting its
antibacterial activity. To overcome this limitation, we synthesized several new antibacterial monomers bearing
different chain lengths and we discovered that a small amount (1-1.5%) of a short-chain QAS monomer, when
used together with other long-chain QAS, could significantly increase antibacterial effect. Additionally, it could
improve the mechanical properties of the composite. We have also developed new translucent silica-zirconia-
yttria ceramic nanofibers and  white gallium (hydrous)oxide-loaded mesoporous silica nanopartilces
(Ga@MSN). Gallium (III) ions and compounds are safe antimicrobial agents but they have not been used in
resin-based dental materials. We hypothesize: (1) the synergistic combination of antibacterial monomers
containing varying chain lengths (enhanced contact-killing) and gallium (hydrous)oxide nanoparticles (pH-
responsive controlled release of Ga ions) can significantly increase the antibacterial and biofilm-inhibitory
effects; and (2) the new antimicrobial fluoride-releasing dental material system will possess significant anti-
caries efficacy, excellent mechanical properties, desirable aesthetics, and a long service life. In this proposed
project, we will further develop novel high-performance antimicrobial fluoride-releasing dental materials with
three aims: In Aim 1, we will formulate and optimize a series of high-performance antimicrobial fluoride-
releasing dental materials (composite and  dentin bonding agent) by blending the fluoride-releasing monomer
and new antibacterial monomers, Ga@MSN, translucent ceramic nanofibers and halloysite nanotubes,
fluoride-releasing glass particles, and photoinitiators. We will test and optimize the phys...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9904114
- **Project number:** 5R01DE026782-04
- **Recipient organization:** LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** XIAOMING XU
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $564,225
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-04-13 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9904114

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9904114, High Performance Antimicrobial Fluoride Releasing Dental Materials (5R01DE026782-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9904114. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*