Long-Term Cytotoxicity, pH and Dissolution Rate of AH Plus and MTA Fillapex

Abstract The aim of the present study was to verify the long-term cytotoxic effects of the MTA Fillapex and to compare them with AH Plus. Dissolution rate and pH were also evaluated. Human osteoblast cells were incubated with elutes of fresh specimens from AH Plus and MTA Fillapex, and with elutes of the same specimens for 4 successive weeks. Elute's pH was evaluated at each time point. A multiparametric cell viability assay was performed. For dissolution rate, ISO methodology was used. The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, complemented with the Tukey post-test (p<0.05). No significant difference was found among the materials when fresh mixed (p>0.05). After 1 week, AH Plus became non-cytotoxic on all three evaluated parameters. Conversely, MTA Fillapex remained severely and mildly cytotoxic over the entire experimental period (p<0.05). The dissolution rate of AH Plus was significantly lower than MTA Fillapex at all time points (p>0.05). The pH of AH Plus was significantly lower than MTA Fillapex at the second and third week (p<0.05). In the other tested time points no statistical difference was observed. In conclusion, MTA Fillapex remained cytotoxic after 4 weeks and its cytotoxicity may be related to the high dissolution rate of this material.

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar os efeitos citotóxicos de longo prazo da MTA Fillapex e comparar com os do AH Plus. Solubilidade e pH também foram avaliados. Osteoblastos humanos foram incubados com elutos de amostras frescas de AH Plus e MTA Fillapex, e com elutos dos mesmos espécimes pelas 4 semanas seguintes. O pH foi avaliado a cada semana. Um ensaio multiparamétrico de viabilidade celular foi realizado. Para solubilidade foi utilizada metodologia ISO. Os resultados foram analisados por ANOVA, complementada com o pós-teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada entre os materiais frescos quando avaliados em relação a citotoxicidade (p>0,05). Depois de uma semana, o AH Plus tornou-se não-citotóxico em todos os três parâmetros avaliados. Por outro lado, MTA Fillapex permaneceu citotóxico durante todo o período experimental (p<0,05). A solubilidade do AH Plus foi significativamente menor do MTA Fillapex para todos os períodos avaliados (p>0,05). O pH da AH Plus foi significativamente menor do que o MTA Fillapex na segunda e na terceira semana (p<0,05). Nos outros períodos testados não houve diferença estatística. Em conclusão, o MTA Fillapex permaneceu citotóxico após 4 semanas e a sua citotoxicidade pode estar relacionada à elevada solubilidade deste material.

Physicochemical characterization of two deproteinized bovine xenografts

Calcium phosphate salts, or more specifically hydroxyapatite, are products of great interest in the fields of medical and dental science due to their biocompatibility and osteoconduction property. Deproteinized xenografts are primarily constituted of natural apatites, sintered or not. Variations in the industrial process may affect physicochemical properties and, therefore, the biological outcome. The purpose of this work was to characterize the physical and chemical properties of deproteinized xenogenic biomaterials, Bio-Oss (Geistlich Biomaterials, Wolhuser, Switzerland) and Gen-Ox (Baumer S.A., Brazil), widely used as bone grafts. Scanning electron microscopy, infrared region spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and degradation analysis were conducted. The results show that both materials presented porous granules, composed of crystalline hydroxyapatite without apparent presence of other phases. Bio-Oss presented greater dissolution in Tris-HCl than Gen-Ox in the degradation test, possibly due to the low crystallinity and the presence of organic residues. In conclusion, both commercial materials are hydroxyapatite compounds, Bio-Oss being less crystalline than Gen-Ox and, therefore, more prone to degradation.