Construction of Zwitterionic Coatings with Lubricating and Antiadhesive Properties for Invisible Aligner Applications

Abstract

Invisible aligners have been widely used in orthodontic treatment but still present issues with plaque formation and oral mucosa abrasion, which can lead to complicated oral diseases. To address these issues, hydrophilic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA) coatings with lubricating, antifouling, and anti‐adhesive properties have been developed on the aligner materials (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate glycol, PETG) via a simple and feasible glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)‐assisted coating strategy. Poly(GMA‐co‐SBMA) was grafted onto the aminated PETG surface via the ring‐opening reaction of GMA (i.e., “grafting to” approach to obtain G‐co‐S coating), or a polySBMA layer was formed on the GMA‐grafted PETG surface via free radical polymerization (i.e., “grafting from” approach to obtain G‐g‐S coating). The G‐co‐S and G‐g‐S coatings significantly reduced the friction coefficient of PETG surface. Protein adsorption, bacterial adhesion, and biofilm formation on the G‐co‐S‐ and G‐g‐S‐coated surfaces were significantly inhibited. The performance of the coatings remained stable after storage in air or artificial saliva for 2 weeks. Both coatings demonstrated good biocompatibility in vitro and did not cause irritation to the oral mucosa of rats in vivo over 2 weeks. This study proposed a promising strategy for the development of invisible aligners with improved performance, which is beneficial for oral health treatment.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved