Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, cilt.142, sa.44, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The longevity of dental restorations is frequently compromised by bacterial degradation, leading to recurrent caries and a shortened service life. While the incorporation of antibacterial reinforcers can enhance antimicrobial performance, their effectiveness is often limited by poor dispersion and lack of homogeneity within the resin matrix. This work examines the integration of an antibacterial monomer, dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM), into UDMA-TEGDMA-based resin matrices at concentrations of 1 wt.% (DUT-1) and 3 wt.% (DUT-3). DMAHDM was synthesized via the Menschutkin reaction and effectively copolymerized into the resin network, as verified by FTIR spectroscopy. Thermo-mechanical analysis indicated that 3 wt.% DMAHDM decreased the Tg and mechanical properties due to disrupted crosslinking, whereas 1 wt.% preserved structural integrity. DUT-1 demonstrated enhanced cytocompatibility, supporting osteoblast adhesion and proliferation, while DUT-3 showed reduced cell viability, presumably due to cytotoxic effects associated with increased DMAHDM concentration. Antibacterial experiments revealed that both DUT-1 and DUT-3 markedly reduced the growth and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus, with DUT-3 exhibiting the greatest reduction in bacterial growth. Nonetheless, the mechanical and biological trade-offs at higher concentrations suggest that 1 wt.% DMAHDM offers an optimal balance. These findings indicate that DMAHDM-modified resins are viable options for use as matrices in restorative dental composites, offering improved antibacterial characteristics while maintaining mechanical performance and cytocompatibility.