Effect of Emdogain coated endodontic materials on viability of human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs)

Aim: Biocompatibility is an important characteristic of dental pulp capping agents. This study aimed to assess the effect of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement and Biodentine with/ without Emdogain (EMD) on the viability of human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs).

Methodology: In this in vitro study, HDPSCs were isolated from the root canal of an extracted impacted third molar tooth and cultured. The cells were exposed to freshly prepared endodontic cements in six groups of MTA, MTA plus EMD, CEM cement, CEM cement plus EMD, Biodentine and Biodentine plus EMD in 24-well plates for 24, 48 and 168 hours (6 wells/repetitions for each material group at each time point). Cell viability was evaluated at each time point using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.

Results: Cell viability was not significantly different at different time points in any endodontic cement group (p>0.05) except for CEM cement/EMD group (p=0.00). At 24 hours, MTA/EMD and MTA showed the highest cell viability (p=0.001). Similar results were obtained at 48 hours (p=0.000). At 168 hours, MTA/EMD and CEM cement/ EMD showed the highest cell viability (p=0.000). Addition of EMD had no significant effect on cell viability in any cement group at 24 or 48 hours. However, addition of EMD to MTA and CEM cement increased the viability of HDPSCs at 168 hours.

Conclusions: Addition of EMD to MTA and CEM cement can increase the viability of HDPSCs at 7 days.