Cytotoxicity of coated and uncoated fibre-reinforced composites.
OBJECTIVE
Currently, there are many fibre-reinforced composites (FRCs) available which differ in the type and volume fraction of fibres, pre-treatment of fibres and matrix composition. The aims of this in vitro investigation were to determine whether there is a difference in biocompatibility of FRCs and if coating FRCs with resin composites influences their cytotoxic potential.


METHODS
Five different FRC materials were tested which were either uncoated or coated with flowable or viscous resin composite. Artificial saliva extracts were prepared according to USP-XXIII and ISO-10993 to determine cytotoxicity by testing cell viability and growth of primary human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) using MTT assay, LIVE/DEAD(®) assay and cell proliferation assay. The influence of eluates on fibres of the cytoskeleton was investigated by vimentin, tubulin and actinin immunostainings. A two-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe's post-hoc test, which included the factors FRC material and coating procedure, was performed to assess cytotoxicity.


RESULTS
All extracts of FRC materials displayed minor cytotoxic potential on HGF cell viability, cell proliferation and integrity of the cytoskeleton. The type of FRC material significantly influenced cell viability (MTT assay) (p < 0.0001), whereas neither the presence of a coating nor the type of coating material resulted in altered cell viability. Distribution and organization of cytosolic fibres was not affected after HGF exposure to eluates.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of knowledge about the leaching behaviour of commonly available fully pre-impregnated FRCs and their interactions with coating materials. The coating of FRCs with resin composite materials did not impact biocompatibility.
Department of Conservative Dentistry.
Cornelia
C
Frese
Diana
D
Wolff
Sebastian
S
Zingler
Tanja
T
Krueger
Kathrin
K
Stucke
Christopher J
CJ
Lux
Hans Joerg
HJ
Staehle
Ralf
R
Erber
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003764:Dental Materials; D006801:Humans
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003764:Dental Materials
Artificial saliva; LIVE/DEAD® assay; MTT assay; cell proliferation assay; cytotoxic potential; extracts; fibre-reinforced composites; immunocytochemistry