Nanoparticles of Bioactive Glass Enhance Biodentine Bioactivity on Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity and bioactivity of a novel nanocomposite containing nanoparticles of bioactive glass (nBGs) on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). nBGs were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Biodentine (BD) nanocomposites (nBG/BD) were prepared with 2 and 5% wt of nBG content; unmodified BD and glass ionomer cement were used as references. Cell viability and attachment were evaluated after 3, 7 and 14 days. Odontogenic differentiation was assessed with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity after 7 and 14 days of exposure. Cells successfully adhered and proliferated on nBG/BD nanocomposites, cell viability of nanocomposites was comparable with unmodified BD and higher than GIC. nBG/BD nanocomposites were, particularly, more active to promote odontogenic differentiation, expressed as higher ALP activity of hDPSCs after 7 days of exposure, than neat BD or GIC. This novel nanocomposite biomaterial, nBG/BD, allowed hDPSC attachment and proliferation and increased the expression of ALP, upregulated in mineral-producing cells. These findings open opportunities to use nBG/BD in vital pulp therapies.

Keywords: apatite-forming ability; bioactive glass; bioactivity; nanocomposites.

Figure 1

Representative SEM images (accelerating voltage of 20 kV, working distance of 10.3–10.6 mm, magnification of 1000×) and EDX elemental analysis of BD, 2% nBG/BD, 5% nBG/BD and GIC set cement surfaces.

Figure 2

Cell viability of hDPSCSs cultured with BD, 2% nBG/BD, 5% nBG/BD and GIC at different culture times as determined by the MTS assay. Values are combined from 2 experiments (n = 4/experiment), standard deviations are represented by vertical bars. *: Statistically significant difference compared with BD (p < 0.05).

Figure 3

Representative SEM images (accelerating voltage of 20 kV, working distance of 10.0–11.4 mm, magnification 100× and 1000×) of hDPSCs cultured with BD, 2% nBG/BD, 5% nBG/BD and GIC after 7 and 14 days of incubation.

Figure 4

ALP activity of hDPSCs cultured with BD, 2% nBG/BD, 5% nBG/BD and GIC at different times. Values are means combined from 2 experiments (n = 4/experiment), standard deviations are represented by vertical bars. #: Statistically significant difference compared with control (p < 0.05). *: Statistically significant difference compared with BD (p < 0.05).