Biocompatibility and Bioactivity of a Dual-Cured Resin-Based Calcium Silicate Cement: In Vitro and in vivo Evaluation

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the biocompatibility and bioactivity of a dual-cured resin-based calcium silicate cement in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: For in vitro analyses, standardized samples were prepared using TheraCal LC, TheraCal PT, and ProRoot MTA. The amount of residual monomer released from TheraCal LC and TheraCal PT was assessed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Calcium ion release from the materials was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to determine the calcium weight volume in the materials. For in vivo analysis, a rat direct pulp capping model with TheraCal LC, TheraCal PT, and ProRoot MTA groups (n = 16 per group) was used. The rats were euthanized after 7 or 28 days, and histological and immunohistochemical analyses (CD68 and DSPP) were performed.

Results: Bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate release from TheraCal PT was lower than that from TheraCal LC (P < .05). Similar results were obtained for calcium-ion release and calcium weight volume, with ProRoot MTA showing the highest values. In the in vivo evaluation, TheraCal PT showed significantly greater hard tissue formation than TheraCal LC (P < .017). TheraCal PT showed lower CD68 expression and greater DSPP expression than TheraCal LC (P < .017). There were no significant differences in the expression of CD68 or DSPP between the TheraCal PT and ProRoot MTA groups.

Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the biocompatibility and bioactivity of TheraCal PT could be comparable to those of ProRoot MTA.

Keywords: Bioactivity; biocompatibility; calcium silicate–based cements; vital pulp therapy.