From Cockle Shell to Bioceramic Root Canal Sealer: The Manufacturing and its Physical and Biological Properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Engineering
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Cockle shells, a waste product of the food industry, possess potential for biomedical applications.
• Developing novel bioceramic materials from sustainable sources is crucial for the dental industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel bioceramic sealer derived from cockle shells (NDBS).
• To evaluate the physical and biological properties of the newly developed bioceramic sealer (NDBS).

Main Methods:

• Cockle shell-derived tricalcium silicate (C-C3S) was synthesized and analyzed.
• NDBS was prepared and its chemical composition, surface morphology, and physical properties were assessed using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and ISO 6876 standards.
• Biological evaluations included cytotoxicity, proliferation assays (MTT), and gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR) of human periodontal ligament cells.

Main Results:

• Synthesized C-C3S contained 55% tricalcium silicate with a particle size of 5.32 microns.
• NDBS exhibited acceptable flowability, setting time, film thickness, and radiopacity, with pH above 7 and comparable calcium release to controls.
• MTT assays showed improved cell viability with dilution, and RT-qPCR indicated reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression and upregulated alkaline phosphatase gene expression.

Conclusions:

• Cockle shells can be utilized to manufacture a novel bioceramic sealer (NDBS) with comparable physical and biological properties to existing commercial sealers like iRoot SP.
• The study indicates the significant potential of NDBS as a viable alternative for root canal sealing applications.