Biocompatibility assessment of resin-based cements on vascularized dentin/pulp tissue-engineered analogues

Christina Hadjichristou; Eleni Papachristou; Emmanouil Vereroudakis; Maria Chatzinikolaidou; Imad About; Petros Koidis; Athina Bakopoulou

doi:10.1016/j.dental.2021.02.019

Biocompatibility assessment of resin-based cements on vascularized dentin/pulp tissue-engineered analogues

Dent Mater. 2021 May;37(5):914-927. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.02.019. Epub 2021 Mar 7.

Authors

Christina Hadjichristou¹, Eleni Papachristou¹, Emmanouil Vereroudakis², Maria Chatzinikolaidou², Imad About³, Petros Koidis¹, Athina Bakopoulou⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece.
² Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece.
³ Aix Marseille University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institute of Movement Sciences, Marseille, France.
⁴ Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece. Electronic address: abakopoulou@dent.auth.gr.

PMID: 33691992
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.02.019

Abstract

Objectives: A three-dimensional (3D) dentin/pulp tissue analogue, resembling the human natural tissue has been engineered in an in vitro setup, aiming to assess the cytocompatibility of resin-based dental restorative cements.

Methods: Stem Cells from Apical Papilla (SCAP) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were embedded in Collagen-I/Fibrin hydrogels at 1:3 ratio within 24-well plates. Hanging culture inserts were placed over the hydrogels, housing an odontoblast-like cell layer and a human treated-dentin barrier. Shear modulus of the hydrogels at 3.5 and 5 mg/ml was evaluated by dynamic mechanical analysis. Eluates of two resin-based cements, a dual-cure- (Breeze™, Pentron: Cement-1/C1), and a self-adhesive cement (SpeedCEMplus™, Ivoclar-Vivadent: Cement-2/C2) were applied into the dentin/pulp tissue analogue after pre-stimulation with LPS. Cytocompatibility was assessed by MTT assay, live/dead staining and real-time PCR analysis.

Results: Both hydrogel concentrations showed similar shear moduli to the natural pulp until day (D) 7, while the 5 mg/ml-hydrogel substantially increased stiffness by D14. Both cements caused no significant toxicity to the dentin/pulp tissue analogue. C1 induced stimulation (p < 0.01) of cell viability (158 ± 3%, 72 h), while pre-stimulation with LPS attenuated this effect. C2 (±LPS) caused minor reduction of viability (15-20%, 24 h) that recovered at 72 h for the LPS+ group. Both cements caused upregulation of VEGF, ANGP-1, and downregulation of the respective receptors VEGFR-2 and Tie-1.

Significance: Both resin-based cements showed good cytocompatibility and triggered angiogenic response within the dentin/pulp tissue analogue, indicating initiation of pulp repair responses to the released xenobiotics.

Keywords: Cytotoxicity assessment; Dentin/pulp tissue analogue; SCAP/HUVEC co-culture; Vascularized collagen/fibrin hydrogel.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Dental Bonding*
Dental Cements
Dentin*
Endothelial Cells
Humans
Odontoblasts
Resin Cements / toxicity
Stem Cells
Tissue Engineering

Substances

Dental Cements
Resin Cements