J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2022, Vol. 100: 59-66.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2021.05.029

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Integrated two-phase free radical hydrogel: Safe, ultra-fast tooth whitening and antibacterial activity

Lujie Zhanga, Jie Pana,b,*(), Jue Zhanga   

  1. aAcademy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    bDepartment of General Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2021-02-22 Revised:2021-05-04 Accepted:2021-05-20 Published:2022-02-20 Online:2022-02-15
  • Contact: Jie Pan
  • About author:*E-mail address: panjie@bjmu.edu.cn (J. Pan).

Abstract:

The growing demand for brilliant smile and tooth whitening has led to the increasing significance of tooth whitening methods. However, the development of tooth whitening materials with high efficiency and safety has been considered to be an urgent challenge. Here, we report a novel tooth whitening strategy, which overcomes the limitation of conventional methods, shows excellent tooth whitening efficiency and safety, and even exhibits outstanding antibacterial activity. Inspired by stomata and chloroplasts in green leaves, we have developed an integrated two-phase free radical hydrogel (TP-GEL), which integrates solid-phase and liquid-phase free radical functional components fabricated by cold plasma technology. TP-GEL demonstrated safe and ultrafast tooth-whitening effect with or without visible light, which can be more significant than that of 30% H2O2, the commonly whitening material in dental clinical practice. More importantly, we also avoid the damage to enamel, such as microhardness, roughness, surface morphology. Benefiting from free radicals, much higher antibacterial properties than commercial products (Chlorhexidine) was obtained. This research provides fundamental design criteria for the development of dual functional oral health care materials with advanced tooth whitening and antibacterial activity.

Key words: Tooth whitening, Integrated two-phase material, Free radical, Safety, Antibacterial activity