Influences of ionic concentration on nanomechanical behaviors for remineralized enamel

This study evaluates the influences of 8DSS peptide and ionic concentrations of simulated body fluid on remineralization behaviors. The polished enamel specimens were acid-demineralized, exposed briefly to 8DSS peptide solution, and then immersed into simulated body fluid (SBF) that favors mineral deposition. At various stages of treatment, nanohardness and elastic modulus were determined by nanoindentation. The results show that the nanomechanical properties of the acid-demineralized enamel were greatly improved as increasing the ionic concentrations of SBF due to the acceleration of mineral deposition. Additionally, the demineralized enamel, treated with 8DSS peptide and immersed into SBF ×2 solution, possesses the highest values of nanohardness and elastic modulus resulting from the combinative effects of surface roughness, morphology, microstructure and crystallinity of the newly formed nanocomposite of calcium phosphate carbonate and hydroxyapatite. The formation of pores in the subsurface induced a reduction in the nanomechanical properties for the enamel subjected into SBF ×3 solution.