Assessment of Silver-Copper Co-Loaded Mesoporous Bioactive Glass as an Advanced Pulp-Capping Material

Objectives: To evaluate the multifunctionality of silver-copper co-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG), with the goal of developing an advanced pulp-capping material.

Methods: The synthesis of materials was conducted using the sol-gel method, following the approach described in previous studies but with some modifications. The composition included 80 mol% SiO₂, 15 mol% CaO, and 5 mol% P₂O₅, with additional components of 5 mol% silver, 5 mol% copper, or 1 mol% silver combined with 4 mol% copper, designated as Ag5/80S, Cu5/80S, or Ag1Cu4/80S, respectively. Furthermore, crystal phases, surface morphology, and ion-releasing activity were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were employed to assess wound-healing effects, while human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) were utilized to evaluate osteogenic effects.

Results: Textural analyses indicated that Ag1Cu4/80S was successfully synthesized using modified procedures, demonstrating comparable ion co-releasing activity. Ag1Cu4/80S exhibited low toxicity and high cell proliferation rates, with a migration rate of 46%, significantly higher than the <10% observed in other groups. In terms of osteogenesis, hDPSCs treated with Ag1Cu4/80S displayed enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity, with mineralization levels 1.6-fold greater than those of untreated controls.

Conclusion: The synthesis of Ag1Cu4/80S was successfully optimized. This material demonstrated significant wound-healing and comparable osteogenic effects relative to other tested materials, highlighting its potential for dental applications.

Clinical relevance: Ag₁Cu₄/80S demonstrated a comparable effect on osteogenesis, indicating its potential to promote mineralization and suggesting its applicability in dental treatments.