Bonded interface between a self‐curing resin and dentin primed with a metalloprotein

The purpose of this study was to investigate adhesive bonding between a self‐curing luting agent and dentin conditioned with a metalloprotein in terms of resin–dentin hybridization and interfacial polymerization. Of the six experimental primers containing bovine heart cytochrome c (BHCC), three contained 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and the remaining three did not. The self‐curing luting agent used consisted of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and tri‐ n ‐butylborane (TBB) with or without 4‐methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4‐META). Bovine dentin surfaces were etched with 10wt% phosphoric acid, primed, and then bonded with stainless steel rods. After 24 h of water storage, the optimum bond strength was obtained with the 4‐META/MMA‐TBB luting agent and the aqueous primer contained 0.1 μmol/g BHCC and 35wt% HEMA. Microscopic observations showed continuity among the luting agent, the hybridized dentin, and the dentin substrate. A model experiment suggested that BHCC accelerates the polymerization of the 4‐META/MMA/HEMA mixture from the hybridized dentin. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 66B: 414–418, 2003