Toxicity of Metal Ions Released from a Fixed Orthodontic Appliance to Gastrointestinal Tract Cell Lines

Threshold and combined effects of heavy metals on the risk of phenotypic age acceleration among U.S. adults

Accumulation of heavy metals in the body has been shown to affect the phenotypic age (PhenoAge). However, the combined and threshold effects of blood heavy metals on the risk of PhenoAge acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) are not well understood. A cross-sectional study was conducted using blood heavy metal data (N = 7763, age ≥18 years) from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PhenoAgeAccel was calculated from actual age and nine biomarkers. Multiple regression equations were used to describe the relationship between heavy metals and PhenoAgeAccel. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression modeling was used to explore the relationship between the combined effects of heavy metals and PhenoAgeAccel. Threshold effect and multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the linear and nonlinear relationships between heavy metals and PhenoAgeAccel. Threshold effect analysis showed that blood mercury (Hg) concentration was linearly associated with PhenoAgeAccel. In contrast, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and combined exposure were nonlinearly associated with PhenoAgeAccel. In addition, the combination of Pb, Cd, Hg, and Mn significantly affected PhenoAgeAccel. The risk of PhenoAgeAccel was increased by 207% (P < 0.0001). Meanwhile, a threshold relationship was found between blood Pb, Cd, Mn, and the occurrence of PhenoAgeAccel. Overall, our results indicate that combined exposure to heavy metals may increase the risk of PhenoAgeAccel. This study underscores the need to reduce heavy metal pollution in the environment and provides a reference threshold for future studies.

Electrophoretic Deposition of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Coatings on CoCrMo Alloy for Biomedical Applications

Carbon nanotubes are a promising material for use in innovative biomedical solutions due to their unique chemical, mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties. This work provides a method for the development of ultrasonically assisted electrophoretic deposition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on a CoCrMo dental alloy. Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes was carried out by chemical oxidation in a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids. The modified and unmodified multi-walled carbon nanotubes were anaphoretically deposited on the CoCrMo alloy in an aqueous solution. Chemical composition was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism and kinetics of the electrochemical corrosion of the obtained coatings in artificial saliva at 37 °C were determined using the open-circuit potential method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and anodic polarization curves. The capacitive behavior and high corrosion resistance of the tested electrodes were revealed. It was found that the kinetics of electrochemical corrosion of the CoCrMo electrode significantly decreased in the presence of the functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube coating. Electrophoretic deposition was shown to be an effective, low-cost, and fast method of producing nanotubes with controlled thickness, homogeneity, and packing density.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases 2.0/3.0

Oxidative stress is frequently described as the balance between the production of reactive species (including oxygen and nitrogen) in biological systems and the ability of the latter to defend itself through the sophisticated antioxidant machinery [...].

Metal Release and Cytotoxicity of Different Orthodontic Bracket-Wire Combinations: An In Vitro Study

Aim

To quantify and compare the metal ions released from different bracket-wire combinations and to assess their cytotoxicity.

Materials and Methods

A total of 360 fabricated sectional fixed orthodontic appliances were divided into 6 groups. The first three groups consisted of stainless-steel brackets with stainless-steel, snickel-titanium (NiTi), and titanium-molybdenum alloy (TMA) archwires, and the other three groups were fabricated using ceramic brackets (polycrystalline alumina) with stainless-steel, NiTi, and TMA archwires. These appliances were immersed in artificial saliva (pH 6.5 ± 0.5, 37°C), for 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month. The nickel and chromium ions released in the artificial saliva were quantified using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer, and cytotoxicity assessment was performed using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on human cervical cancer cell line.

Results

The stainless-steel bracket groups displayed a significantly greater release of nickel and chromium ions compared to the ceramic bracket groups (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were identified when comparing the three archwire types within the stainless-steel/ceramic bracket groups. At the end of 1 month, the % cell viability demonstrated by the appliances was in the decreasing order of stainless-steel-TMA > ceramic-stainless steel > stainless-steel-NiTi > ceramic-NiTi > stainless-steel-stainless steel > ceramic-TMA.

Conclusion

Considerably greater release of nickel and chromium ions was observed from the appliances utilizing stainless-steel brackets compared to those employing ceramic brackets. However, no remarkable difference in the levels of nickel and chromium ions was observed when comparing the three archwires: stainless steel, NiTi, and TMA. In the cytotoxicity assessment, the ceramic-TMA combination displayed the highest level of cytotoxicity, while the stainless-steel-TMA combination displayed the least cytotoxicity.

Effect of Artificial Saliva Modification on Pitting Corrosion and Mechanical Properties of the Remanium®-Type Orthodontic Archwire

The pitting corrosion of orthodontic apparatus elements in the oral environment is an interest of both clinicians and scientists dealing with the assessment of the biocompatibility of medical materials. This work presents a study on the effect of ready-to-use Listerine® and Meridol® mouthwashes and sodium fluoride on the resistance of the commercial Remanium®-type orthodontic archwire to pitting corrosion in artificial saliva at 37 °C. XRD, SEM, EDS, mechanical properties, and microhardness measurements were used to characterize the archwire. The in vitro corrosion resistance of the archwire was examined using the open-circuit potential method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and anodic polarization curves. The physicochemical characteristics confirmed the presence of a bi-phase alloy with a mixed austenite/ferrite structure containing Fe 74.4(7) at.%, Cr 18.4(4) at.%, and Ni 7.2(4) at.%. The Fe-Cr-Ni alloy was characterized by high tensile strength and Vickers microhardness. EIS revealed the capacitive behavior with high corrosion resistance. It was found that the kinetics of pitting corrosion in the artificial saliva decreased in the presence of NaF and mouthwashes. The potentiodynamic characteristics confirmed the decrease in susceptibility to pitting corrosion after the modification of artificial saliva. The pitting corrosion mechanism of the self-passive oxide layer on the surface of the Fe-Cr-Ni electrode in the biological environment containing chloride ions was discussed in detail. Mechanical properties after corrosion tests were weakened.