OBJECTIVETo develop novel self- healing and antibacterial resin composite containing microcapsules filled with polymerizable healing monomer, and to measure its properties for further clinical application.

METHODSMicrocapsules filled with healing monomer of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate were synthesized according to methods introduced in the previous research. Microcapsules were added into novel resin composite containing nano-antibacterial silica fillers grafted with long chain alkyl quaternary ammonium at mass fractions of 0, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% or 10.0%. A commercial resin composite (Tetric N-Ceram) was used as control. Flexural test was used to measure resin composite flexural strength and elastic modulus. The single edge V-notched beam method was used to measure fracture toughness and self-healing efficiency. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the fractured surface of selected specimen for investigation of fracture mechanisms.

RESULTSThe flexural strength and elastic modulus of the resin composite were (96.4 ± 14.3) MPa and (6.2 ± 1.1) GPa respectively after incorporation of microcapsules up to 7.5%, and no significant difference was found between the experimental group and the control group [(99.1 ± 11.9) MPa and (6.1 ± 1.1) GPa] (P>0.05). The self-healing efficiency of (66.8 ± 7.0)% and (79.3 ± 9.7)% were achieved for resin composite with microcapsule mass fractions at 7.5% and 10.0%. SEM image showed that irregular films covered the fractured surface. Conclusions This novel self-healing and antibacterial resin composite containing microcapsules filled with polymerizable healing monomer exhibited a promising self- healing ability, which enabled itself well up for combating bulk fracture and secondary caries in clinical application.