{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T09:30:21Z","timestamp":1776331821801,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,4]],"date-time":"2025-06-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748995200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Glass ionomer cements (GICs) have been clinically attractive dental restorative materials for many years and are widely used as luting, lining, and restorative materials. However, these materials still have limitations in terms of weak physio-mechanical properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of zirconium oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZrO2 particles) on the physical and mechanical properties of two commercially available GICs. Four groups were prepared for each material: the control group (without nanoparticles) and three groups modified by the incorporation of nanoparticles at 2, 5, and 7 weight% (wt%). Firstly, the morphology and size of the nanoparticles were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Secondly, flexural strength, flexural modulus, Vickers hardness, water sorption, and solubility were evaluated. The main effect plots revealed that the addition of nano-ZrO2 particles enhances flexural strength, flexural modulus, and water sorption of GICs at a 7 wt% concentration and Vickers hardness at a 2 wt% concentration. The SEM analysis clearly shows that the cracks became narrower with the addition of nano-ZrO2 particles, whereas these cracks were completely closed at 7% nano-ZrO2 particles. The findings of the study appear promising, and it is anticipated that the optimization of nano-ZrO2 particles may aid the development of improved materials for load-bearing restorations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26115382","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,4]],"date-time":"2025-06-04T06:00:49Z","timestamp":1749016849000},"page":"5382","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["The Impact of Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticles on the Mechanical and Physical Properties of Glass Ionomer Dental Materials"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3924-9677","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Faiza","family":"Amin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Science of Dental Materials, Dow Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi 74200, Pakistan"}]},{"given":"Syed Faraz","family":"Moin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr Zafar H Zaidi Center for Proteomics, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2030-6907","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Naresh","family":"Kumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Science of Dental Materials, Dow Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi 74200, Pakistan"}]},{"given":"Muhammad Asif","family":"Asghar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Food and Feed Safety Laboratory\/FMRRC, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi 75270, Pakistan"}]},{"given":"Syed Junaid","family":"Mahmood","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Plastic & Polymer Section, Applied Chemistry Research Centre (ACRC), PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi 75270, Pakistan"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4730-8072","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paulo J.","family":"Palma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Center for Innovation and Research in Oral Sciences (CIROS), University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Endodontics, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"31","article-title":"Tooth Decay Is the Most Prevalent Disease","volume":"33","author":"Heng","year":"2016","journal-title":"Fed. 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