Introduction: Calcium silicate (CS) –based materials
play an important role in the development of endodontic
materials that induce bone/cementum tissue regeneration
and inhibit bacterial viability. The aim of this study
was to prepare novel mesoporous CS (MesoCS) nanoparticles
that have osteogenic, drug delivery, and antibacterial
characteristics for endodontic materials and
also have an excellent ability to develop apatite mineralization.
Methods: The MesoCS nanoparticles were
prepared using sol-gel methods. In addition, the mesoporous
structure, specific surface area, pore volume,
and morphology of the MesoCS nanoparticles were
analyzed. The apatite mineralization ability, in vitro
odontogenic differentiation, drug delivery, and antibacterial
properties of the MesoCS nanoparticles were
further investigated. Results: The results indicate that
the 200-nm–sized MesoCS nanoparticles synthesized
using a facile template method exhibited a high specific
surface area and pore volume with internal mesopores
(average pore size = 3.05 nm). Furthermore, the MesoCS
nanoparticles can be used as drug carriers to maintain
sustained release of gentamicin and fibroblast
growth factor-2 (FGF-2). The MesoCS-loaded FGF-2
might stimulate more odontogenic-related protein
than CS because of the FGF-2 release. Conclusions:
Based on this work, it can be inferred that MesoCS
nanoparticles are potentially useful endodontic materials
for biocompatible and osteogenic dental pulp tissue
regenerative materials. (J Endod 2017;43:69–76)
