Fabrication and characterization of reinforced glass ionomer cement by zinc oxide and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

This study shows the enhancement of glass ionomer cement (GIC) by incorporating hydroxyapatite (HA) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles to improve its mechanical strength, biological activity, and antibacterial properties. GC is widely used in dental and orthopedic applications due to its bioactivity and biocompatibility, but it suffers from weak antibacterial properties and limited load-bearing capacity. HA, a calcium phosphate compound similar to natural bone, and ZnO, known for its antibacterial and bone-regenerative properties, were integrated into GIC to address these limitations. The modified GC exhibited improved compressive strength and bioactivity, particularly with the addition of 4 wt% ZnO nanoparticles, which showed the highest increase in mechanical performance while maintaining cytocompatibility. However, the fluoride release was reduced, indicating an exchange between enhanced mechanical properties and fluoride ion release. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed using well diffusion, MIC, and MBC tests, confirming that the modified GC has significant potential in dental and orthopedic applications. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of Zn²⁺ ion release to fully understand its impact on the antibacterial performance of the cement.