Magnesium oxide nanoparticle-enhanced bioactive 3D-printed denture resins: Optimized antifungal performance and improved clinical applicability

This study developes a bioactive 3D-printed denture base resin by incorporating magnesium oxide nanoparticles (nMgO) via stereolithography (SLA) technology, aiming to impart robust antifungal properties while maintaining clinical applicability. Physicochemical characterization showed that nMgO exhibited a positive surface charge (∼+15 mV), cubic crystal structure (XRD), ROS generation capability (EPR), and uniform near-spherical to polyhedral morphology with sizes of 50–100 nm (TEM). The nMgO-modified resin demonstrated dose-dependent antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans , achieving up to 91 % reduction in colony-forming units and significant inhibition of biofilm metabolic activity. Importantly, the addition of nMgO did not compromise key clinical properties including mechanical strength (flexural strength ≥ 65 MPa; modulus ≥ 2 GPa), physicochemical stability (degree of conversion, water sorption < 40 µg/mm³, solubility < 7.5 µg/mm³), and surface wettability, all meeting ISO 4049:2019 and ISO 20795–1:2013 standards. Biocompatibility testing with human gingival fibroblasts confirmed non-cytotoxicity (relative growth rate > 80 %, EN ISO 10993–5). These results demonstrate that integrating nMgO effectively imparts antifungal activity to SLA-printed denture resin without compromising structural, physicochemical, or biological performance, highlighting its potential as a safe antimicrobial additive for dental prosthetics.