EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE FROM FLUORIDE-LOADED CARBON NANOTUBES

Abstract

The developments in nanotechnology have led to significant advances in many areas of science and technology including medical sciences and dentistry. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have some unique properties such as their tube-shaped structure which allows for drug delivery and makes them very suitable agents for use with biomaterials in various fields of medicine. The aim of this research was to evaluate the fluoride delivery potential of fluoride-loaded carbon nanotubes in two different artificial saliva solutions of pH 7.4 and pH 5.5. After buckypaper samples were prepared from CNTs, the dispersant agent Triton X, and distilled water, the samples were loaded with NaF. According to our results, the release of fluoride from the fluoride-loaded carbon nanotubes was achieved although the release occurred faster than was expected. The fluoride release was significantly higher in the artificial saliva with pH 5.5 which is a critical pH for enamel than with pH 7.4. We concluded that further research should be performed to regulate the fluoride release and to increase the potential for a slower fluoride release from the fluoride-loaded nanotubules through developing an amplified interaction between fluoride and the carbon nanotubes.