In vitro evaluation of the biocompatibility of dental alloys: fibronectin expression patterns and relationships to cellular proliferation rates.
OBJECTIVE
This short-term (72- to 96-hour) in vitro study on fibroblasts evaluated the biocompatibility of 3 single-phase dental alloys by determining cellular proliferation rates and the expression of a glycoprotein, fibronectin, which is involved in cellular adhesion processes.


METHODS
Flow 2002 fibroblasts were cultured together with 3 single-phase dental alloys of different composition. Proliferation rates were determined by 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Fibronectin expression was determined by indirect immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
At 72 hours, cells cultured with the alloy containing the lowest amount of noble elements (gold, platinum, and palladium) and the highest amount of silver exhibited significantly less proliferation than did controls. At 96 hours, only cultures with the alloy containing the greatest amount of noble elements behaved in a way similar to controls. Fibronectin organization in fibrils and in focal adhesions was correlated to higher cellular proliferation rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibronectin organization could be a useful tool to determine the biocompatibility of dental alloys. Among the noble elements, palladium by itself exhibits very good biocompatibility. These indications could be useful for practitioners in the choice of the best alloy for specific clinical applications.
Grill
V
V
Department of Human Morphology, Via Manzoni 16, University of Trieste, I-34138 Trieste, Italy. grill@univ.trieste.it
Sandrucci
M A
MA
Di Lenarda
R
R
Basa
M
M
Narducci
P
P
Martelli
A M
AM
Bareggi
R
R
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015870:Gene Expression; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003722:Dental Alloys; D005353:Fibronectins; D006047:Gold Alloys; D012834:Silver; D010984:Platinum; D010165:Palladium; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine