Physical and drug- releasing properties of a cement containing simvastatin (SimCeram)

This in vitro study compared the physical characteristics and drug release patterns of a bioactive cement containing with 0.1 μM Simvastatin (SimCeram) with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA; Angelus, Brazil).

SimCeram, a calcium silicate-based cement was prepared with the powder composition of 25 wt% silicon-doped hydroxyapatite, 25 wt% strontium-doped hydroxyapatite, and 50 wt% tricalcium silicate/dicalcium silicate. SimCeram liquid contained 0.1 μM dissolved in distilled water. After preparing SimCeram and MTA, the initial setting time of cements was determined with a Gillmore needle. Compressive strength was measured at 1 h, 1 day, and 1 week using a Universal Testing Machine. Cement solubility was assessed according to ISO 6876 after one day, two, and four weeks. Calcium ion release was measured with an ICP-AES device, and simvastatin release was also examined using a UV-spectrophotometer at 238 nm.

MTA setting time was significantly shorter (12.33 ± 0.57 min) compared to SimCeram (36.33 ± 1.15 min; P < 0.001). MTA exhibited significantly higher compressive strength than SimCeram after 1 h and 1 day (P < 0.05). However, after 1 week, the compressive strength of SimCeram (10.82 ± 1.93 MPa) surpassed that of MTA (6.79 ± 3.24 MPa; P = 0.009). SimCeram showed greater calcium ion release and solubility throughout all time points tested compared to MTA (P < 0.05). Simvastatin release demonstrated an initial burst after 1 h and reached a plateau after 24 h.

SimCeram showed higher compressive strength and calcium release compared to MTA. Given simvastatin's beneficial properties-such as anti-inflammatory effects, angiogenesis promotion, and the ability to induce differentiation of dental pulp stem cells-along with the significant calcium ion release from the calcium silicate-based component of the cement, SimCeram could be a promising material for vital pulp therapy.