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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Accessing the Cytotoxicity and Cell Response to Biomaterials
Published on: July 8, 2021
Physical properties and biological effects of mineral trioxide aggregate mixed with methylcellulose and calcium
Bin-Na Lee1, Soo-Ji Chun1, Hoon-Sang Chang1
1Chonnam National University, School of Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Gwangju, Korea.
Objectives:
Methylcellulose (MC) is a chemical compound derived from cellulose. MTA mixed with MC reduces setting time and increases plasticity. This study assessed the influence of MC as an anti-washout ingredient and CaCl2 as a setting time accelerator on the physical and biological properties of MTA.
Material And Methods:
Test materials were divided into 3 groups; Group 1(control): distilled water; Group 2: 1% MC/CaCl2; Group 3: 2% MC/CaCl2. Compressive strength, pH, flowability and cell viability were tested. The gene expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP) was detected by RT-PCR and real- time PCR. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and mineralization behavior were evaluated using an ALP staining and an alizarin red staining.
Results:
Compressive strength, pH, and cell viability of MTA mixed with MC/CaCl2 were not significantly different compared to the control group. The flowability of MTA with MC/CaCI2 has decreased significantly when compared to the control (p<.05). The mRNA level of BSP has increased significantly in MTA with MC/CaCl2 compared to the control (p<.05). This study revealed higher expression of ALP and mineralization in cells exposed to MTA mixed with water and MTA mixed with MC/CaCl2 compared to the control (p<.05).
Conclusions:
MC decreased the flowability of MTA and did not interrupt the physical and biological effect of MTA. It suggests that these cements may be useful as a root-end filling material.
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