Agradecimentos: The authors wish to thank the Dental Material Laboratory of Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, SP, Brazil, particularly Ms. Aline Regina Barbosa Santos and Ms. Talita Reek, for their technical cooperation and assistance. The authors are also grateful for the financial support received from the São Paulo Research Support Foundation (FAPESP, Grant # 16/13786-0 & Grant # 19/14078-8) and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq –Scholarship PIBIC 2018-2019). The authors declare that they have no ties with any company of any nature related to this research Ver menos

Abstract: Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2-nts) were incorporated into a glass ionomer cement (GIC) with improved mechanical properties and antibacterial activity. The aims of the present in vitro study were to define the elemental characterization, aluminum (Al) release rate, and initial working time for GIC reinforced with TiO2-nts, in an experimental caries model. TiO2-nts were incorporated into GIC powder components at 5% by weight, and compared with unblended GIC. Experimental approaches used energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and brightness loss to define surface element properties, Al release rates, and initial working time, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by 2-way ANOVA, Tukey's test, generalized linear models, and Student's t test (a = 0.05). EDS data analysis revealed that TiO2-nts incorporated into GIC had no significant impact on the typical elemental composition of GICs in an in vitro caries model. Regarding the demineralizing solution, GIC with TiO2-nt significantly decreased the Al release rate, compared with the control group (p < 0.0001). Moreover, TiO2-nt incorporated into GIC did not alter the initial working time of the material (p > 0.05). These findings add information to our scientific body of knowledge concerning the potential impact of TiO2-nt on the performance of conventional GICs Ver menos