# Development of multifunctional resins for robust dentin bonding

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY · 2020 · $368,125

## Abstract

Development of Multifunctional Resins for Robust Dentin Bonding
Project Summary
The current dental restorations suffer from reduced longevity mainly due to interfacial breakdown/failures,
which cause microleakage, sensitivity, recurrent caries, restoration removal/replacement and extensive loss
of sound tooth structure. The breakdown has been linked to the failure of current bonding systems to
develop a durable seal to dentin. Current dentin bonding strategies mainly rely on micromechanical
retention between infiltrated resin and exposed collagen fibrils in the demineralized dentin layer. Strength of
this interlocking or entanglement depends on the quality and longevity of both the infiltrated resin and
collagen fibrils within the hybrid layer. There is substantial evidence to suggest that the quality of this layer
is very poor, and the micromechanical binding mechanism is intrinsically problematic, does not provide a
strong, tight, and durable seal between restorative material and dentin. Results from both in vitro and in vivo
studies including ours have indicated that the following critical issues inhibit the formation of a durable bond
when using current restorative bonding systems. These issues include poor/no interactions/bindings
between infiltrated resin and collagen, poor quality of infiltrated resin (due to inadequate monomer/polymer
conversion and hydrolysis), and degradation of acid-etched/unprotected collagen fibrils. The unprotected
collagen undergoes degradation by exogenous bacteria and endogenous MMPs (which are activated
immediately by acid etching), proceeding with hydrolysis of poor quality resins. It is nearly impossible to
obtain strong and durable interface bonding without dramatic alterations in chemistry and/or bonding
strategies. Clearly new chemistry and new bonding concept must be developed before a revolutionary
improvement in dental restorations can be accomplished. In this application, we propose to develop novel
monomers for robust, durable binding to address all the above issues. Such functional monomers will be
designed to crosslink resin at one end and crosslink collagen fibrils at the other, not only stabilizing and
increasing the longevity of both resin and collagen phases but also creating a tight, strong bond between
resin polymer and dentin collagen. The approach is innovative since it represents the first systematic design
with rationally engineered chemistry to simultaneously tackle all the three critical challenges afflicting
current bonding systems. The overall hypothesis of this proposal is that new restorative resins formulated to
induce collagen crosslinking, strong resin-collagen interactions and resin crosslinking will provide enhanced
interfacial structural integrity and increased durability in the presence of clinically relevant dentin substrates.
A combinatory approach/strategy together with in situ interfacial multi-scale characterization will be used in
the studies. This approach will allow us ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9942262
- **Project number:** 5R01DE027049-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY
- **Principal Investigator:** YONG WANG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $368,125
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9942262

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9942262, Development of multifunctional resins for robust dentin bonding (5R01DE027049-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9942262. Licensed CC0.

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