Application of flow cytometry to determine the cytotoxicity of urethane dimethacrylate in human cells

Genotoxicity of urethane dimethacrylate, a tooth restoration component

Urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) is used in dental restorative materials in its polymeric form. However, the process of polymerization is usually incomplete and the monomers of UDMA can diffuse into the oral cavity and the pulp, reaching millimolar concentrations. In the present work we showed that UDMA at 0.1 and 1.0 mM decreased the viability of and induced DNA damage in lymphocytes in a concentration dependent manner, but it did not affect a plasmid DNA in vitro. UDMA at 1mM induced apoptosis in lymphocytes. The lymphocytes exposed to UDMA were able to repair their DNA within 60 min. Analysis with DNA repair enzymes Endo III and Fpg showed that UDMA induced mainly oxidative DNA lesions. Vitamin C and chitosan decreased genotoxic effect of UDMA. Our results show that monomers of UDMA may exert pronounced cyto- and genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes and chitosan can be considered as a protection against such effects.

Biocompatibility of resin-based dental materials applied as liners in deep cavities prepared in human teeth

BACKGROUND

Since only a few data have been published concerning the effects of resinous dental materials on the pulp-dentin complex, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of resin-based materials applied as liners in deep cavities prepared in human teeth.

METHODS

After preparing class V cavities, the following dental materials were applied on the axial walls: group 1, Vitrebond (VIT; 3M ESPE); group 2, Ultra-Blend Plus (UBP; Untradent); and group 3, Clearfil SE Bond (CSEB; Kuraray). In group 4 (control), the hard-setting calcium hydroxide cement Dycal (CH; Caulk/Dentsply) was used. The teeth extracted at 7 days or between 30 and 85 days after the clinical procedures were processed for histological evaluation.

RESULTS

For all the experimental and control groups, most of specimens exhibited no pulpal response or slight inflammatory reaction associated with slight tissue disorganization at 7-day period. Moderate inflammatory pulpal response occurred only in one tooth (RDT = 262 microm) of group 3 in which transdentinal diffusion of resin components was observed.

CONCLUSION

The resin-based dental cements VIT and UBP as well as the bonding agent CSEB presented acceptable biocompatibility when applied in deep cavities prepared in sound human teeth.

In vivo evaluation of the biocompatibility of three current bonding agents

The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of three current bonding agents and calcium hydroxide cement. Sixty polyethylene tubes filled with the following materials: Group 1: Prime & Bond NT (PB-Dentsply, US; Group 2: Bond 1 (BO-Jeneric/Pentron, US); Group 3: Optibond Solo (OP-Kerr, US); and Group 4 (control): calcium hydroxide cement - Dycal (CH-Dentsply, US) were implanted into the connective tissue of 30 rats. After 15, 30 and 60 days, the implants were excised and the animals sacrificed. The biopsies were immersed in Karnovsky (pH, 7.2) fixative solution for 48 hours, and processed using routine histological technique. Six-micron-thick sections were cut and stained with hematoxilin and eosin and Masson's trichome technique. Microscopic evaluation was used to compare the connective tissue reactions caused by the experimental and control materials adjacent to the tube opening. At 15 days, the experimental and control materials triggered a moderate to intense inflammatory response which gave rise to a thick capsule adjacent to the tube opening. With time, the inflammatory reaction decreased. At 60 days, the connective tissue adjacent to the bonding agents exhibited a persistent inflammatory response mediated by macrophages and giant cells which were engulfing displaced resin components. On the other hand, for the control group (calcium hydroxide) no inflammatory response associated with a thin capsule adjacent to the material was observed even at the 30-day period. The hard-setting calcium hydroxide cement allowed complete healing and was considered more biocompatible than the bonding agents.

Genotoxicity assessment of oxirane-based dental monomers in mammalian cells

The potential use of oxirane (epoxy) monomers in dental composite development raises the concern to test their genetic safety. Oxiranes can interact with DNA resulting in DNA damage, mutations, and possibly carcinogenesis. Our objective was to evaluate DNA damage and cell-cycle disruption in mammalian cells after exposure to epoxy monomers. The experimental oxiranes were Araldite trade mark GY 281, Cyracure trade mark UVR 6105 and 1,3-dioxane-2,2'-1,3-dioxane-5',4'-bicyclo[4.1.0] heptane (DECHE-TOSU). L929 fibroblast cells were incubated with the monomer for 7 and 24 h at 37 degrees C/5% CO(2). After incubation, cells were subjected to DNA damage alkaline unwinding assay and flow cytometry cell-cycle analysis. Lack of DNA damage and cell-cycle effects were observed with DECHE-TOSU. Exposure to subtoxic doses of Araldite trade mark GY 281 or Cyracure trade mark UVR 6105 caused DNA damage and cell cycle disruption. A significant (p < 0.01) effect for Araldite trade mark GY 281 was observed with cell populations in G1 and G2/M when compared to DMSO solvent control. Similar comparisons revealed significant differences in G2/M cell cycle population after 24-h exposure to 100 microM Cyracure trade mark UVR 6105. For comparison, BISGMA was evaluated to produce DNA damage but without cell-cycle effects suggesting DNA repair mechanisms were effective. Our findings with DECHE-TOSU, Araldite trade mark GY 281 and Cyracure trade mark UVR 6105 indicated cell-cycle disruption followed DNA damage.

Relation of dental composite formulations to their degradation and the release of hydrolyzed polymeric-resin-derived products

This article reviews the principal modes of dental composite material degradation and relates them to the specific components of the composites themselves. Particular emphasis is placed on the selection of the monomer resins, the filler content, and the degree of monomer conversion after the clinical materials are cured. Loss of mechanical function and leaching of components from the composites are briefly described, while a more detailed description is provided of studies that have considered the chemical breakdown of materials by agents that are present in the oral cavity, or model the latter. Specific attention will be given to the hydrolysis process of monomer and composite components, i.e., the scission of condensation-type bonds (esters, ethers, amides, etc.) that make up the monomer resins, following reaction of the resins with water and salivary enzymes. A synopsis of enzyme types and their sources is outlined, along with a description of the work that supports their ability to attack and degrade specific types of monomer systems. The methods for the study of biodegradation effects are compared in terms of sensitivity and the information that they provide. The impact of biodegradation on the ultimate biocompatibility of current materials is discussed from the perspective of what is known to date and what remains to be studied. The findings of the past decade clearly indicate that there are many reasons to probe the issue of biochemical stability of composite resins in the oral cavity. The challenge will now be to have both industry and government agencies take a pro-active approach to fund research in this area, with the expectation that these studies will lead to a more concise definition of biocompatibility issues related to dental composites. In addition, the acquired information from such studies will generate the development of alternate polymeric chemistries and composite formulations that will require further investigation for use as the next generation of restorative materials with enhanced biostability.

Metabolic effects of dental resin components in vitro detected by NMR spectroscopy

Earlier studies have shown that the comonomer triethyleneglycol-dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and the photostabilizer 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (HMBP) are cytotoxic and inhibit cell growth. It was the aim of this study to elucidate the underlying metabolic effects of TEGDMA and HMBP on immortal contact-inhibited Swiss albino mouse embryo cells (3T3 fibroblasts) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Cell extracts and culture media were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy for metabolic changes after incubation for 24 hours with ED20-concentrations of TEGDMA and HMBP. TEGDMA could be detected in all fractions (cytosol, lipid fractions, and culture media) of 3T3 cells, while HMBP was found only in the lipid fraction accumulated at a maximum rate (51 nmol/mg DNA) compared with TEGDMA (27 nmol/mg DNA). TEGDMA increased the concentration of phosphomonoesters to 180+/-36% and decreased the phosphodiesters to 65+/-5% of controls (control = 100%). Thus, the turnover of phospholipids was enhanced, whereas content and composition of phospholipids of membranes did not alter markedly. Additionally, TEGDMA changed the metabolic state of cells, indicated by slight decreases of nucleoside triphosphates and an increase in the ratio of nucleoside diphosphates to nucleoside triphosphates, while HMBP had no effect. The most remarkable effect of TEGDMA was a nearly complete decline of the intracellular glutathione levels. Analysis of our data shows that NMR spectroscopy of cell-material interactions may reveal metabolic effects of organic test substances which are not detectable by standard in vitro assays. The comonomer TEGDMA affected the metabolism of the cells on different levels, while HMBP accumulated in the lipid fraction and induced significantly fewer effects on cell metabolism.

Influence of silicone (PDMS) surface texture on human skin fibroblast proliferation as determined by cell cycle analysis

In vivo biocompatibility of soft-tissue implants is often hampered by development of capsules that eventually might contract and impair implant function. It has been shown that capsule formation can be significantly reduced by using materials with textured surface elements in the micron range. In this study the interaction of human fibroblasts with silicone surfaces was analyzed using cell cycle analysis. Silicone was textured with 2, 5, and 10 microns wide grooves (2MU, 5MU, 10MU, respectively) or kept smooth (SMT). Cell cycle analysis was performed after staining of cells with propidium iodide. Cells proliferated on the fibronectin-preadsorbed silicone, as demonstrated by increased coverage and occurrence of subpopulations in the S and G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Cells on SMT went faster into the S phase than cells on textured silicones. Cells on 10MU showed less proliferation than cells on 2MU and 5MU. Besides the basic percentages of cells in the different cycle phases, DNA profiles were also influenced by incubation time and texture, especially with respect to the presence of hypodiploid populations and asymmetry of the G0/G1 peak. Finally scatter characteristics were influenced. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay data did not reveal significant differences among the different samples. Fibronectin preadsorption of silicone only resulted in slightly higher MTT conversion. Cell cycle analysis proved to be a sensitive screening method for proliferation on the silicone surfaces and provided information beyond the normal G0/G1, S and G2/M subpopulations.

Effect of dental material HEMA monomer on human dental pulp cells

The purpose of this study was the cytotoxicity assay of dental material HEMA monomer to human dental pulp cell by MTT method and application of the flow cytometry to analyze effect of dental material on the cell cycle progression. The result of MTT method showed the inhibition of cell growth and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of HEMA monomer in human dental pulp cell was 815.19 micrograms/ml. The result of the flow cytometry showed that there was a perturbation on human dental pulp cell cycle progression at the phases of Sand G2M with a dose-dependent manner. Biomaterials including dental materials should be safety to human bodies. Presently, many methods for testing the cytotoxicity of biomaterials were suggested. [1-2] MTT method is one of the cytotoxicity assay. It was provided by Monsmnn. [3] MTT is a kind of tetrazolium salt [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yi)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide]. MTT method is the rapid, precision and quantitative colorimetric assay for cytotoxicity. It can be used to measure the proliferation, cytotoxicity or activation of living cells and is capable of handling large number of samples. Many investigators have used this advanced method.[4] Flow cytometry (FCM) analyzes the quantity of DNA bonded with dyes in each cell. It can provided the information of the cell cycle progression in detail. Currently, flow cytometry has been widely and successfully used in various fields of basic science research and clinical medicine. This FCM technology also can be used to study the cytotoxicity of dental materials and evaluate the biocompatibility of dental materials.[5-6] The contents of the study were (1) cytotoxicity assay on dental material HEMA monomer in human dental pulp cells by MTT method. (2) application flow cytometry to analyze the effect of dental material HEMA monomer on the cell cycle progression of the human dental pulp cells.

Cytotoxicity of 35 dental resin composite monomers/additives in permanent 3T3 and three human primary fibroblast cultures

It was the purpose of this investigation to determine the cytotoxic effects (ED50 concentrations) of 35 monomers or additives identified in commercial dental resin composites. Monolayers of permanent 3T3 cells and three primary human fibroblast types derived from oral tissues (gingiva, pulp, and periodontal ligament) were used as test systems. All substances were tested in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 5.0 mM. In general, ED50 values varied from 0.06 to > 5 mM. Within the groups of co(monomers), initiators, and cointiators, severe (e.g., Bis-GMA, UDMA, DMBZ, and DMDTA) or moderate (HEMA, BEMA, CQ, DMPT, and DMAPE) cytotoxic effects could be evaluated. Within the group of reaction/decomposition products, only moderate or slight effects were found (ED50: 0.7 to > 5 mM). The inhibitor BHT, the contaminant TPSb, and the photostabilizer HMBP, however, were highly cytotoxic in all cell cultures. In addition, the ED50 values of DBPO and HMBP significantly varied (0.43-3.8 mM, respectively, and 0.44-3.07 mM) with the applied cell culture. Our comprehensive screening shows that for several of the highly cytotoxic composite components, less cytotoxic alternatives are available. Furthermore, there was no cell type identified which was consistently less or more sensitive to the toxic effects of the tested compounds than the others. Primary human periodontal ligament and pulp fibroblasts, however, were found to be more sensitive than 3T3 and gingival fibroblasts to alterations from most tested substances.

The mutagenic activity of unpolymerized resin monomers in Salmonella typhimurium and V79 cells

Dimethacrylate derivatives are used as monomers to polymerize dental composite materials and for a great variety of other industrial resins. Occupational exposure is likely in various ways because of the many areas of methacrylate application. Here, the mutagenicity of the monomers, bisphenol A-diglycidyl dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA), urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), Bisphenol A (BPA), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was studied in a bacterial (Ames test) and a mammalian gene mutation assay (V79/HPRT assay). Mutagenicity was determined in different Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102) and in V79 cells in the presence and in the absence of a metabolically active microsomal fraction from rat liver (S9). No mutagenic effects were observed with Bis-GMA and UDMA, methyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and bisphenol A. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was mutagenic in a dose-dependent manner in three Salmonella tester strains. The number of mutants was increased by a factor of 2 to 3 with strains TA97a and TA102 in the absence of S9. Moreover, the numbers of mutants induced in S. typhimurium TA100 were about 8-fold higher than in solvent controls. GMA also induced an increase of mutants in V79 cells in the absence of S9. However, GMA was inactivated by microsomal enzymes. Triethylenglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) was not mutagenic in any S. typhimurium. In contrast, the compound induced a dose-dependent rise in mutant frequencies in V79 cell cultures. It is concluded that TEGDMA acted through a clastogenic mechanism which is not detected by Ames tester strains.

Cytotoxic effects of acrylates and methacrylates: relationships of monomer structures and cytotoxicity

Thirty-nine acrylates and methacrylates that had been used in dental resin materials were evaluated by a cytotoxicity test, and the relationships between their structures and cytotoxicity were studied to predict cytotoxic levels of dental resin materials in order to develop new low-toxic resin materials. All the acrylates evaluated were more toxic than corresponding methacrylates. In both the acrylates and methacrylates, a hydroxyl group seemed to enhance cytotoxicity. Dimethacrylates with 14 or fewer oxyethylene chains showed similar cytotoxicity while dimethacrylates with 23 oxyethylene chains showed lower cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity ranking of monomers widely used in dental resin materials was bisphenol A bis 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (bisGMA) > urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) > triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (3G) > 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) > methyl methacrylate (MMA). In acrylates, methacrylates, and ethylmethacrylates with either substituents, the lipophilicity of substituents affected their cytotoxicity, and an inverse correlation between IC50 and logP was observed. These results will be useful in developing new resin materials with low toxic monomer compositions.

Toxicity parameters for cytotoxicity testing of dental materials in two different mammalian cell lines

The present study compares three specific toxicity parameters for cytotoxicity testing of chemically different dental materials. Two glass ionomer cements, a zinc phosphate cement, and a composite material were used to evaluate the sensitivity of three assays: two viability assays, the MTT assay and the quantifiable neutral red assay, and a proliferation assay based on the determination of the total protein content of a cell culture. The colorimetric assays were carried out using transformed mouse fibroblasts (L-929 cells) and fibroblasts derived from biopsies of normal human gingiva. In most cases, all colorimetric assays detected much weaker cytotoxic responses, if any, in gingival fibroblasts than in L-929 cells. The viability assays indicated cytotoxicity of the extracts to two glass ionomer cements in L-929 cells when the materials were set at 0% relatively humidity for 24 h. The severe cytotoxicity of the zinc-phosphate cement in both viability assays was less influenced by the setting conditions. The cytotoxicity of the composite material was most pronounced in the neutral red assay. In general, both the MTT assay and the neutral red assay were more sensitive than the colorimetric proliferation assay. These assays can be performed very effectively; only few cells are needed for rapid, reliable and inexpensive screening purposes of a large number of samples in a short time. Automated processing with a microplate reader after non-radioactive labeling of the cells and subsequent automated analyses of original data, with no need for sophisticated and expensive equipment, are additional advantages of the systems.

In vitro models of biocompatibility: a review

The objectives of this paper were to define in vitro biocompatibility of materials, to discuss some of the issues concerning why conclusions from tissue culture are sometimes different from in vivo biocompatibility, to give highlights of the sequence of the development of these in vitro assays from the early 1950s to their present state of development, and to discuss possible future trends for in vitro testing. In vitro biocompatibility tests were developed to simulate and predict biological reactions to materials when placed into or on tissues in the body. Traditional assays have measured cytotoxicity by means of either an end-stage event, (i.e., permeability of cytoplasmic membranes of dead and dying cells, or some metabolic parameter such as cell division or an enzymatic reaction). In vitro assays for initiation of inflammatory and immune reactions to materials have also begun to appear in the literature. More recently, the concept of dentin barrier tests has been introduced for dental restorative materials. Four models which measure both permeability and biological effects of materials are compared and discussed. Future efforts may be directed toward development of materials which will allow or promote function and differentiation of tissues associated with materials. New analytical procedures and understanding of optimal characteristics of materials should improve our ability to develop more biocompatible materials. Both molecular biology techniques, and altered design of material surfaces may make the materials either more or less reactive to the biological milieu. These trends suggest a greater future role of the biological sciences in the development of biomaterials.