Nano-scale investigation of the biomimetic apatite on the new resin-modified glass-ionomer cement

Resin-modified glass-ionomer cements, which consist of calcium-fluoro alumino silicate glass powders and a water-compatible monomer usually hydroxyl-ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) together with a polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polymerization initiators, have been widely used in dentistry [1]. They set rapidly without any shrinkage, the lack of temperature increase on reaction, and develop high mechanical strength [2,3]. Therefore, if bioactive glass-ionomer cements can be obtained, such cements are expected to be useful as cements for fixing orthopedic implants to the surrounding bone. In the present study, the formation of nano-scale bone-like apatite via soaking the new resin-modified glass-ionomer cement in the simulated body fliud has been investigated