The Influence of Nanoparticles on the Mechanical and Biological Properties of Temporary Acrylics

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the flexural strength (FS) and antifungal properties of autopolymerised polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) reinforced with the of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles (NPs). Materials and Methods: ZrO2 and HA-NPs were incorporated into cold cured PMMA at a rate of 1%. 65×10×3 mm specimens were prepared for FS and 2×10 mm disc specimens for Candida albicans (C. Albicans) adhesion test (n=10). Surface roughness was recorded for each specimen via a profilometer. 3-point bending, Candida adhesion tests were performed. Statistical analysis was done with One-way analysis of variance and Post-Hoc Bonferroni tests. (p<0.05) Results: Based on the findings, the addition of NPs resulted in a decrease in FS. In comparison to other groups, ZrO2 (55.47 ± 9.40) showed a significant decrease in FS (p<0.05). In addition, the adhesion of C. albicans was significantly reduced by ZrO2 (16.5 ± 5.8) in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: ZrO2-NPs incorporated into temporary acrylic reduced FS and prevented Candida adhesion, while the impact of HA-NPs remains elusive.