Structural and Compositional Effects of Essential Oils on Silica-Rich Gel Materials for Novel Dental Applications

Particle-containing gels were functionalized with clove, peppermint, tea tree, sage, coconut, lemon, and eucalyptus oils to obtain a novel material for dental applications with improved cell interactions and antibacterial applications. Dried samples, SEM imaging, and elemental mapping revealed a homogeneous distribution of inorganic and organic components throughout the gel matrix. EDX and XPS investigations revealed changes in elemental composition and surface chemistry following the addition of essential oil. Also, FTIR spectroscopy revealed characteristic interactions between the silica-rich network and bioactive oil constituents through slight modifications. In contrast, UV–Vis and PL investigations showed differences in the optical behavior of the formulations. TG-DTA measurements with decomposition analysis revealed a noticeable increase in essential oils, which broadly influenced the chemical composition. Biological evaluation using L929 fibroblasts demonstrated >73% cell viability after 72 h in essential oil-containing structures, confirming proper cytocompatibility. The compatibility between the silica-based formulation and essential oils resulted in better cellular effects without compromising compatibility. Therefore, the promising potential of these multifunctional formulations for advanced oral care applications has been experimentally demonstrated and reported.