Objectives: To investigate the effect of various dilutions of antibiotic medicaments used in endodontic regeneration on the survival of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and to determine their antibacterial effect against established Enterococcus faecalis biofilm.
Materials and methods: The cytotoxic and antibacterial effects of different triple (TAP) and double antibiotic paste (DAP) dilutions (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 10 mg/ml) were tested against Enterococcus faecalis established biofilm and DPSC. Established bacterial biofilm were exposed to antibiotic dilutions for 3 days. Then, biofilms were collected, spiral plated, and the numbers of bacterial colony forming units (CFU/ml) were determined. For the cytotoxic effect, lactate dehydrogenase activity assays (LDH) and cell viability assays (WST-1) were used to measure the percentage of DPSC cytotoxicity after 3-day treatment with the same antibiotic dilutions. A general linear mixed model was used for statistical analyses (α = 0.05).
Results: All antibiotic dilutions significantly decreased the bacterial CFU/ml. For WST-1 assays, all antibiotic dilutions except 0.125 mg/ml significantly reduced the viability of DPSC. For LDH assays, the three lowest tested concentrations of DAP (0.5, 0.25, 0.125 mg/ml) and the two lowest concentrations of TAP (0.25 and 0.125 mg/ml) were non-toxic to DPSC.
Conclusions: All tested dilutions had an antibacterial effect against E. faecalis. However, 0.125 mg/ml of DAP and TAP showed a significant antibacterial effect with no cytotoxic effects on DPSCs.
Clinical relevance: Using appropriate antibiotic concentrations of intracanal medicament during endodontic regeneration procedures is critical to disinfect root canal and decrease the adverse effects on stem cells.
Keywords: Dental pulp stem cells; Double antibiotic paste; Enterococcus faecalis; Established biofilm; Triple antibiotic paste.