Polymerizable Crown Ethers for Dental Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental materials based on radical polymerization struggle with achieving good substrate adhesion, solubility, and mechanical properties due to poor compatibility between organic monomers or polymers and dental substrates like dentine or tooth enamel.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating radically polymerizable macrocyclic polyethers or macrocyclic heteroanalogous polyethers into dental materials, which promote adhesion through complexation of metal ions and improve biocompatibility by being covalently integrated into the polymerizate, thereby enhancing substrate interaction and mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If organic monomers or polymers are used in dental materials, then radical polymerization can be achieved for curing during application, but substrate adhesion is poor due to incompatibility with dentine or tooth enamel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces macrocyclic polyethers (crown ethers) as intermediary compounds that mediate between the organic polymer matrix and the inorganic dental substrate. These crown ethers complex with metal ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Sr2+) present in dentine and enamel, creating a bridge that improves adhesion while maintaining compatibility with the organic monomer system. The crown ethers are incorporated into the polymer matrix through radical polymerization, allowing them to function as adhesion promoters without compromising the curing process.
2Reliability
If non-polymerizable crown ethers are used, then substrate adhesion is improved through metal ion complexation, but solubility and mechanical properties are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of crown ethers by introducing polymerizable functional groups (such as vinyl, allyl, or (meth)acryloyl groups) at specific positions on the macrocyclic structure. This parameter change enables the crown ethers to undergo radical polymerization and become covalently integrated into the polymer matrix, transforming them from discrete adhesion promoters to permanent structural components. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining metal ion complexation capability while achieving permanent incorporation that improves mechanical properties and reduces solubility issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system where polymerizable macrocyclic polyethers are incorporated into an organic monomer matrix through radical polymerization. The resulting material combines the adhesion-promoting properties of crown ethers with the mechanical strength and solubility control of the polymer matrix. The macrocyclic structures remain intact within the composite, continuing to complex metal ions for adhesion, while the polymerization process ensures their permanent integration and improved mechanical properties.
3Reliability
If macrocyclic polyethers are covalently integrated into the polymerizate, then biocompatibility and mechanical properties are improved, but adhesion mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two functions into the macrocyclic polyether structure: (1) metal ion complexation for adhesion promotion, and (2) radical polymerization for covalent integration into the polymer matrix. By combining these functions in a single molecular structure, the patent simplifies the overall adhesion mechanism while achieving both biocompatibility and mechanical property improvement. The crown ether rings remain intact to complex metal ions, while the polymerizable groups ensure covalent bonding to the polymer chain, eliminating the need for separate adhesion promotion and integration steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Radically polymerizable macrocyclic polyethers or macrocyclic heteroanalogous polyethers, preferably crown ethers, heteroanalogous crown ethers and cryptands for use in dental materials is disclosed.