Self-Healing Dental Composite with Active Ingredient Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental composite materials lack effective self-healing capabilities and safe release mechanisms for active ingredients, posing toxicity and aesthetic concerns, while existing self-healing materials are not suitable for dental applications due to dark coloration and harmful constituents.

Innovation Solution

A self-healing composite material with a polymer matrix containing micro- or nanospheres filled with an oligomeric curing agent, which polymerizes upon fracture to repair the material, and an integrated system for slow release of active ingredients using inorganic constituents, allowing for controlled pharmacological responses and improved mechanical and thermal properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If self-healing materials are used in dental applications, then fracture repair capability is improved, but dark coloration and harmful constituents cause aesthetic degradation and toxicity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-healing capabilityVSAvoidtoxicity and dark coloration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful constituents (Grubbs catalyst and dicyclopentadiene monomer) are extracted and removed from the self-healing system. The patent replaces these with a safe alternative using a polymer matrix containing microcapsules filled with a curing agent that polymerizes upon fracture without requiring toxic catalysts or monomers, thereby maintaining self-healing capability while eliminating toxicity and dark coloration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The chemical composition parameters of the self-healing system are changed from toxic substances to biocompatible materials. The patent uses a polymer matrix with microencapsulated curing agent that undergoes polymerization through safe mechanisms, altering the chemical parameters to achieve both self-healing function and aesthetic safety for dental applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If inorganic materials are used for dental restorations, then structural integrity and resistance to mechanical stresses are improved, but inability to self-heal and release active ingredients limits functional versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidself-healing and active ingredient release

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material system combining a polymer matrix with microencapsulated curing agent and inorganic fillers. This composite structure integrates the structural integrity of inorganic materials with the self-healing capability of the polymer-curing agent system, while also enabling controlled release of active ingredients, thereby achieving both strength and functional versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The composite material is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support through inorganic fillers, enabling self-healing through microencapsulated curing agent, and facilitating controlled release of active ingredients. This multi-functional design achieves versatility without compromising structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If composite resins with inorganic particles are used, then mechanical strength and wear resistance are improved, but lack of self-healing capability and active ingredient release reduces long-term durability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strength and wear resistanceVSAvoidlong-term durability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates microcapsules containing curing agent and active ingredients into the composite resin matrix during manufacturing, before the material is subjected to use conditions. This preliminary incorporation ensures that self-healing and active ingredient release capabilities are pre-established, enabling the material to maintain durability over time by automatically repairing fractures and releasing therapeutic agents as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composite material achieves effective self-healing and controlled release of active ingredients, enhancing mechanical strength, thermal resistance, and safety for dental applications, while avoiding the toxicity and aesthetic issues of previous solutions.

Implementation Method 1

microspheres or nanospheres of a polymer material filled with an oligomeric curing agent which polymerises in the presence of a suitable activator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

an inorganic constituent dispersed in the polymer matrix... able to incorporate active ingredients... which can be released slowly at the site where the matrix is positioned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS8795732B2Composite material with properties of self-healing and release of active ingredients, for biomedical applications

Publication Date: 2014.08.05 MINALE MARIO

AI summary

This invention relates to a composite material for biomedical applications, in particular dental applications, which possesses self-healing capacity and is able to incorporate a system for the release of active ingredients at the stage of application and use.