Effects of an experimental calcium aluminosilicate cement on the viability of murine odontoblast-like cells

Introduction: Quick-setting calcium aluminosilicate cement with improved washout resistance is a potential substitute for calcium silicate cements in endodontics. This study examined the effect of an experimental calcium aluminosilicate cement (Quick-Set; Primus Consulting, Bradenton, FL) on the viability of odontoblast-like cells. Methods: The biocompatibility of Quick-Set and white ProRoot MTA (WMTA; Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK) cements and their eluents was evaluated using a murine dental papilla-derived odontoblast-like cell line (MDPC-23); 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to examine the effects of the 2 hydraulic cements on mitochondrial metabolic activity. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to identify the effects of the 2 cements on cell death-induced plasma membrane permeability to fluorescent dyes and DNA stains. Results: After the first week of immersion in culture medium, Quick-Set and WMTA were more cytotoxic than the Teflon-negative control (P <.05), and the cells exhibited more apoptosis/necrosis than Teflon (P <.05). After the second week of immersion, the 2 cements were as biocompatible as Teflon (P >.05), with cells exhibiting minimal apoptosis/necrosis. Eluents from the set cements at 1:1 dilution were significantly more cytotoxic that eluents at 1:10 or 1:100 dilution (P <.05). Conclusions: Quick-Set and WMTA exhibited similar cytotoxicity profiles. They possess negligible in vitro toxicologic risks after time-dependent elution of toxic components.