Hemolysis mechanism of dental adhesive monomer (methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate) using a phosphatidylcholine liposome system as a model for biomembranes.

To clarify the mechanism of interaction of dental adhesive monomers with biological membranes at the molecular level, we studied the interaction of methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) and methacrylic acid (MAA) with the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposome system using NMR and DSC. MDP-DPPC interaction became apparent through broadening of the DPPC phase transition as pH decreased, finally the enthalpy of MDP-DPPC (1:1 mol ratio) reduced to zero at pH 2.5. Proton chemical shifts of MDP enhanced shielding and proton signals due to the phosphatidylcholine polar group (O-CH2-CH2-N bond) of DPPC were observed. MAA-DPPC interaction was smaller than that of MDP-DPPC, even at low pH. It was concluded that the strong hemolytic activity of MDP may be due to its interaction with the phospholipid bilayers of erythrocyte membranes.