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

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 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.