Abstract
In this study, artificial root dentine lesions were treated with a novel peptide, GA-C16G2, to evaluate its remineralisation potential under in vitro conditions. Human root dentine specimens were demineralised for 4 days and subjected to a 7-day pH-cycling regimen with daily application of GA-C16G2 (500 μM), C16G2 (500 μM), gallic acid (GA; 500 μM), or distilled water (DW). Mineral density, mechanical properties, morphology, and chemical composition were determined using micro-computed tomography, nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses, respectively. GA-C16G2 and GA treatments resulted in significantly higher mineral density (1.69 ± 0.05 g/cm3 and 1.69 ± 0.02 g/cm3) than C16G2 (1.58 ± 0.06 g/cm3) and DW (1.63 ± 0.04 g/cm3) (p < 0.05), corresponding to mineral gains of 17.8% and 16.5%, respectively. Similarly, GA-C16G2 (hardness: 0.33 ± 0.08 GPa; elastic modulus: 7.63 ± 1.93 GPa) and GA (hardness: 0.32 ± 0.06 GPa; elastic modulus: 6.91 ± 1.45 GPa) demonstrated significantly greater recovery of mechanical properties than C16G2 and DW (p < 0.05). Root dentine appeared to show fewer exposed collagen fibrils, higher calcium and phosphate contents, and stronger phosphate bands in groups GA-C16G2 and GA, compared to those in groups C16G2 and DW. GA-C16G2 demonstrated the potential to promote mineral recovery and mechanical reinforcement of artificial root dentine lesions. Further studies incorporating established remineralising reference standards and biofilm-based models are required to determine its relative therapeutic performance and clinical relevance.