The sensitizing potential of di-(meth)acrylates based on bisphenol A or epoxy resin in the guinea pig

Most composite materials in dentistry used today, contain resins based on dimethacrylates. BIS-GMA [2,2-bis-(4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy)phenyl)propane], the addition reaction product of bisphenol A and glycidyl methacrylate or an epoxy resin and methacrylic acid, is used most extensively. More recently, dimethacrylates based on bisphenol A, with various chain lengths have appeared on the market as a substitute for or in addition to BIS-GMA. Such compounds are BIS-MA [2,2-bis-(4-(methacryloxy)phenyl)propane], BIS-EMA [2,2-bis-(4-(2-methacryloxyethoxy)phenyl)propane] and BIS-PMA [2,2-bis-(4-(3-methacryloxypropoxy)phenyl)propane]. Increasing interest in the radiaton cure of coatings and printing inks have focused attention on these substances and on epoxy diacrylates as radiation-curable resins. The sensitizing capacity of the different acrylates based on bisphenol A or epoxy resin have been investigated with the guinea pig maximization test. The pattern of simultaneous reactivity of the compounds was also studied. Epoxy diacrylate [2,2-bis-(4-(2-hydroxy-3-acryloxy-propoxy)phenyl)propane], BIS-EMA and BIS-MA are shown to be strong sensitizers, while the linear fraction of BIS-GMA and its isomers and BIS-PMA have none or a low sensitizing capacity. The impurities in the BIS-GMA and BIS-MA batches seem to have high allergenic potential. These results stress the importance of a pure substance when discussing allergenicity and cross reactions.