Effect of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane modified zinc oxide nanoparticles incorporated in polymethylmethacrylate material on antifungal, optical and mechanical properties

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate 1) the characteristics of different amount of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) deposited on zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnOnps) by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) before and after tetrahydrofuran washing, 2) the effect of different MPS amount deposited on ZnOnps incorporated in PMMA material on mechanical properties, and 3) the effect of different ZnOnps amounts with or without MPS incorporated in PMMA material on antifungal, optical and mechanical properties. The FTIR and TGA results showed the success of silanization. The monolayered silane molecules were parallelly oriented on the ZnOnps surface. The different MPS amounts (0-14.4 wt%) deposited on ZnOnps incorporated in PMMA material demonstrated no significant differences on mechanical properties. The different amount (1.25, 2.5 and 5 wt%) of non-silanized (Nosi) or silanized (Si) ZnOnps incorporated in PMMA material on antifungal, optical and mechanical properties were evaluated by direct contact test, optical test and three-point bending test. With the same ZnOnps amount, the Si groups demonstrated a greater reduction in C. albicans compared with the Nosi groups. The color difference and opacity of the Nosi groups were greater when comparing with the Si groups. The flexural strength of Si groups, except for the 1.25% groups, was significantly greater compared with the Nosi groups. It was concluded that PMMA material incorporated with silanized ZnOnps, particularly 2.5% of silanized ZnOnps, had a greater antifungal effect, less color changes and opacity compared with non-silanized ZnOnps, while retaining its mechanical properties.