Polymerization of Chitosan-Acrylic Salt for Use in Dentistry

Abstract
Polymerization of chitosan-acrylic acid salt (CHI+− AA) has been studied in the presence of UV irradiation or by heat produced by Nd: YAG laser radiation. The polymer obtained photochemically, CHI-PAA, is soluble in water or saliva whereas the polymer obtained thermally, poly-CHI-AA, is strongly crosslinked by amide links and is insoluble in both water and saliva. Thermal polymerization of CHI+−AA allows for its application in the blocking of microchannels in dentin. Crosslinked poly-CHI-AA is much more resistant to enzymatic lysozyme degradation than CHI+− AA or CHI.