Biocompatibility of various light-curing and one conventional glass-ionomer cement

The purpose of this study was to determine and to compare the cellular compatibility of modern light-curing (lc) glass-ionomer cements (GICs) to one conventional (co) GIC. The following materials were investigated: Ionoseal (IS, lc) (VOCO, Germany), Vitrebond (VB, lc) (3M, USA), Compoglass (CG, lc) (Vivadent, FL) and Ketac Fil Applicap (KF, co) (ESPE, Germany). From all GICs, equally sized specimens (height 2 mm, diameter 5 mm) were polymerized or set according to the instructions of the manufacturers. Various extracts of all specimens were obtained by subsequent elutions. Human primary fibroblasts of the attached gingiva (HGF) and permanent mouse fibroblasts (3T3) were used for the experiments. HGF and 3T3 cells were exposed to the extracts of all materials for 48 h. Growth inhibition due to cytotoxic effects was determined by staining the cultures with Hoechst 33342 (determination of DNA and cell vitality). It was found that the material CG induced no growth inhibition in any of the assays. Proliferation of HGF was not, or only slightly, inhibited by the extracts of the materials IS and KF, whereas severe alterations were caused by the extracts of the material VB. Growth of 3T3 cells was only moderately or slightly reduced by the extracts of materials IS and KF respectively, but was severely or totally inhibited by all extracts of VB. From our results we conclude that the GIC VB is very cytotoxic and therefore may also induce alterations in vivo. All other investigated GICs revealed excellent (CG), or good (IS, KF) cellular compatibility.