Chemical interaction of phosphoric acid ester with hydroxyapatite.

Among functional monomers used in contemporary dental adhesives, 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) has been found to interact chemically with hydroxyapatite (HAp) most intensively and stably. This effect was thought to be the basis of the superior bonding effectiveness of MDP-based self-etch adhesives to enamel/dentin. To elucidate fully the chemical interaction and reactivity of MDP with HAp, we used (31)P CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy and powder x-ray diffraction. In an aqueous ethanol solution, Ca ions were leached from HAp to form, at short term, a MDP-calcium salt (CaMHP(2)) layered structure on the HAp surface. When MDP was allowed to interact for longer time (< 24 hrs), CaHPO(4).2H(2)O precipitated on top of this MDP-calcium salt layered structure. In conclusion, the intense chemical interaction of MDP with HAp must be ascribed to superficial dissolution of HAp induced by the MDP adsorption and subsequent deposition of MDP-calcium salt with a solubility lower than that of CaHPO(4).2H(2)O.