Efficacy of different sterilization protocols and its impact on osteogenic potential of autogenous tooth bone graft:...

The efficacy of autogenous tooth bone graft (auto-TBG) is affected by many determinants, such as sterilization protocols and the expression of bone-inducing proteins such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) present in the graft.

This in vitro study was conducted to compare the efficacy of different sterilization protocols and their impact on the osteogenic potential of auto-TBG.

Ninety-eight auto-TBG samples were obtained from 10 extracted teeth that were prepared, ground, and sorted with the help of a dentin grinder. Seventy samples were partially demineralized with the standard recommended techniques, and 28 samples were kept nondemineralized (ND) for comparison. All the processed samples were subjected to different sterilization protocols namely Group A (gamma radiation), Group B (autoclave), Group C (chemical sterilization): Subgroup a (chlorhexidine), Subgroup b (povidone-iodine), Subgroup c (lactic acid), Subgroup d (sodium hydroxide), and Group D (normal saline). Sterilized auto-TBG samples were subjected to microbiological and biochemical analysis.

All sterilization protocols could effectively eliminate the microbial growth except normal saline. Mean BMP-2 concentration (pg/mL) was found as 141.91 (chlorhexidine) >134.50 (sodium hydroxide) >134.17 (lactic acid) >133.83 (povidone-iodine) >122.83 (gamma radiation) >121.81 (autoclave) >119.80 (normal saline).

Comparatively, the chemical method of sterilization showed a higher mean concentration of BMP-2. In addition, all the samples of demineralized auto-TBG particles showed significantly higher mean BMP-2 concentration as compared to ND samples.