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Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay
Published on: November 10, 2013
Evaluation of cytotoxicity of MTA employing various additives
Behnam Jafarnia1, Jin Jiang, Jianing He
1Division of Endodontology, School of Dental Medicine, The University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-1715, USA.
Objective:
Various additives have been suggested to be used with MTA to improve its handling characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various additives on cytotoxicity of MTA.
Study Design:
Freshly mixed or set MTA pellet (1-mm diameter and 1-mm high cylinder) was prepared by mixing MTA with various additives. Additives tested included water, saline, 2% lidocaine, 5% CaCl(2), 3% NaOCl gel, and K-Y liquid. L929 cells were seeded into 96-well plates at 3 x 10(4) cells per well and incubated with MTA pellets for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Cells without treatment served as a control group. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay and calculated as the percentage of the control group. The results were analyzed with 1-way ANOVA.
Results:
For the set MTA, there were no significant cell viability differences (P > .05) among the various additives at each tested time. For the freshly mixed MTA, 3% NaOCl gel has lower cell viability (P < .05) than all the other groups. The cell viability of 3% NaOCl gel group was 29% to 50%. Gray and white MTA have similar results.
Conclusion:
This study shows that the various additives have no effect on the cytotoxicity of MTA when it becomes set. Also, all the tested additives, except 3% NaOCl gel, had no effect on the cytotoxicity of MTA when it was freshly mixed. The cytotoxicity of 3% NaOCl gel probably has no clinical significance considering there is still 29% to 50% of cell viability after cells were treated with MTA pellet in a 0.32-cm(2) culture well. MTA is biocompatible when mixed with the various additives.
Insights
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with various additives remains biocompatible. Additives do not affect set MTA cytotoxicity, and only 3% sodium hypochlorite gel impacts freshly mixed MTA viability, with likely no clinical significance.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Dental Materials
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) is a widely used dental material.
- Additives are often incorporated into MTA to enhance its handling properties.
- Understanding the impact of these additives on MTA's cytotoxicity is crucial for clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cytotoxicity of MTA when mixed with various additives.
- To determine if additives affect the cell viability of both freshly mixed and set MTA.
Main Methods:
- MTA was mixed with water, saline, 2% lidocaine, 5% CaCl(2), 3% NaOCl gel, and K-Y liquid.
- L929 cells were incubated with MTA pellets for 24, 48, and 72 hours.
- Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay and analyzed with one-way ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Set MTA showed no significant differences in cell viability regardless of the additive used.
- Freshly mixed MTA with 3% NaOCl gel exhibited significantly lower cell viability (29%-50%) compared to other additives.
- Both gray and white MTA formulations yielded similar results.
Conclusions:
- Additives do not alter the cytotoxicity of set MTA.
- Most tested additives do not affect the cytotoxicity of freshly mixed MTA, with 3% NaOCl gel being an exception.
- MTA remains biocompatible even when mixed with tested additives, including 3% NaOCl gel, suggesting minimal clinical concern.

