Journal of dentistry ·8 Nov 2026 ·Added 10 Nov 2026

Dopamine-Assisted Nanocarriers for Radicular Dentin Reinforcement and Sealing: Topographical and Biomechanical Evaluation.

Manuel Toledano, Carolina Cifuentes, Esther Muñoz-Soto, Federico Titos, María T Osorio, Raquel Toledano, Fátima S Aguilera

DOI ↗

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of novel polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) doped with dexamethasone (Dex-NPs), Dex and zinc (Dex-Zn-NPs), parathyroid hormone (PTH-NPs), tideglusib (TDg-NPs) and dopamine (Dop-NPs) in reducing dentin permeability and facilitating dentin remineralization after endodontic treatment. METHODS: The effect of Dex-NPs, Dex-Zn-NPs, PTH-NPs, TDg-NPs and Dop-NPs was tested in radicular dentin, at 24 h and 6 m. A control group without NPs was included. Radicular dentin was assessed for fluid filtration. Dentin remineralization was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, AFM, nanohardness (Hi), and Raman analysis. RESULTS: Dop-NPs treated dentin exhibited the lowest micropermeability, and showed hermetically sealed dentinal tubules and extended mineral deposits onto dentin. Root dentin 6 m storage showed similar nanohardness in all groups, though PTH-NPs provoked low Hi, and TDg-NPs facilitated high Hi at cervical and apical dentin, respectively. Both TDg-NPs and PTH-NPs created dentin porosities with amorphous mineral that originated micropermeability, jeopardizing sealing ability. The presence of Zn at radicular dentin facilitated the substrate mineralization and an improvement of the dentin sealing. Dentin treated with undoped NPs showed immature hydroxyapatite and multiple porosities that enabled micropermeability. CONCLUSIONS: Dop-NPs promoted radicular dentin sealing by reducing porosity and favoring occlusion of dentinal tubules, but it also resulted in limited reinforcement of the root dentin. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dop-NPs improved radicular dentin sealing but provided limited structural reinforcement. Combining dopamine and tideglusib may enhance dentin sealing and strengthening; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because they are based on an ex vivo model and lack biological, cytocompatibility, and in vivo validation.