Development of photo-cleavable adhesive systems

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert; Professor Dr. Bernd W. Sigusch
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 435335632

Dentistry uses durable and very stable bondings and composites. In temporary applications (for example, in the attachment of brackets or temporaries) thereby a tooth substance gentle removal is not possible so far. The aim of the project is to produce new formulations, which can still be cured by means of light (> 420 nm), but can be weakened so much by irradiation with UV light (<360 nm) that a gentle removal of the brackets and composites is possible. For this purpose, new photocleavable components are synthesized and formulated into bonds and composites. By varying the concentration of the constituents of the formulations (in the formulation robot), their curing and subsequent UV irradiation, as well as the determination of the change in the mechanical properties (by means of nanoidentation), formulations are identified which are subjected to more thorough tests. This includes determination of biomechanical limits and shear bond strength to teeth and analysis of tooth surfaces after detachment, as well as examination of the biocompatibility of the formulations and their degradation products.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants