Post-Process Cytotoxicity of Resins in Clear Aligner Fabrication

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• 3D printing resins are increasingly used in dentistry and biomedical fields.
• Evaluating the biocompatibility of novel resin materials is crucial for safe clinical application.
• Post-printing protocols can influence the biological properties of 3D-printed materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the cytotoxicity of Tera Harz TC-85 DAC and Clear-A resins.
• To investigate the impact of different post-printing curing methods on Clear-A resin.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility of 3D-printed resins with human gingival fibroblasts.

Main Methods:

• Resin samples were fabricated using the Ackuretta Sol 3D printer.
• Three groups were tested: Tera Harz TC-85 DAC with Tera Harz Cure, and Clear-A with Curie machine or Tera Harz Cure.
• Cytotoxicity was evaluated using XTT and real-time cell analysis (RTCA) assays on human gingival fibroblasts.

Main Results:

• Resin extracts showed high cell viability (>90%) at dilutions and 75-80% at undiluted concentrations after 24 hours.
• No significant differences in cell viability were observed among groups at 48 and 72 hours.
• RTCA confirmed transient cytotoxicity within 24 hours, followed by cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

• All tested 3D-printed resin extracts demonstrated biocompatibility with human gingival fibroblasts.
• The tested post-printing protocols did not lead to significant cytotoxicity.
• These findings support the potential use of these resins in dental and biomedical applications.