Characterization of a new TiF4 and β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex and its in vitro evaluation on inhibiting enamel demineralization

Titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) is an effective but instable caries preventive agent. As the stability problems could be minimized through the use of drug carriers this study aimed to prepare and characterize a new TiF4 nanoinclusion complex and to evaluate its potential in inhibiting enamel demineralization under pH cycling conditions. The TiF4 nanosystems were prepared using β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and sodium montmorillonite (MMTNa). Bovine enamel blocks (n = 48) with known surface microhardness (SMH), were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 12) and submitted to one of the following treatments: distilled deionized water (as negative control) and solutions containing 1% βCD, 1% TiF4 and TiF4:βCD. The solutions were blinded applied once on the blocks with a microbrush® on the surface for 1 min before pH-cycling. After that, samples were reavaluated by SMH, %SMH loss, cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDX). The inclusion complex of TiF4:βCD offered better protection against demineralization in the subsurface. The SEM analysis showed that TiF4 and TiF4:βCD samples presented the most intact enamel than the control. The EDX analysis identified titanium in TiF4 and TiF4:βCD groups. TiF4:βCD has higher potential on inhibiting demineralization in the inner enamel. TiF4:βCD is a new alternative to TiF4 stabilization in order to reduce enamel subsurface demineralization.