• Incorporation of boron nitride nanosheets at 0.5% mass fraction maximally enhanced flexural strength and microhardness of resin-matrix ceramics.
• All tested boron nitride nanosheet/resin-matrix ceramics exhibited excellent cytocompatibility with L929 and HUVEC cells (survival >85%).
• Wear resistance varied with boron nitride nanosheet content and cycle number; 0.5% provided optimal wear resistance after 120,000 cycles.
• Boron nitride nanosheets increased hydrophobicity of resin-matrix ceramics, as indicated by increased water contact angle.