In this study, we
aimed to examine the effect of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane
(MPS) on dentin collagen and the impact of MPS and 10-methacryloyloxydecyl
dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) together and separately on resin–dentin
bonding. Eight groups of primers were prepared: control group, MDP,
MPS5, MPS5 + MDP, MPS10, MPS10 + MDP, MPS15, and MPS15 + MDP. The
potential interaction between MPS and collagen was assessed by molecular
dynamics, contact angle measurement, zeta potential measurement, and
chemoanalytic characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,
Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,
and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Microtensile bond strength
(μTBS) and nanoleakage were evaluated after 24 h or 12 months
of water storage. In situ zymography was used to evaluate the enzyme
activity at the bonded interface. According to chemoanalytic characterization
and molecular dynamics, a weak interaction between MPS and collagen
was observed. MPS enhanced the hydrophobicity and negative charge
of the collagen surface (
P
< 0.05). Applying an
MDP-containing primer increased μTBS (
P
>
0.05)
and reduced fluorescence after 24 h of water storage. Water storage
for 12 months decreased μTBS (
P
< 0.05)
and increased nanoleakage for all groups. MPS conditioning did not
change μTBS and nanoleakage after 24 h of water storage or aging.
The MPS10 + MDP and MPS15 + MDP groups presented more silver nitrate
and μTBS decrease than the MDP group (
P
<
0.05). These results indicated that MPS had a weak interaction with
collagen that enhanced its surface negative charge and hydrophobicity
without adversely affecting dentin bonding. However, compared to MDP
alone, mixing MDP with MPS impaired their effectiveness and made the
dentin bonding unstable.