Effect of novel chitosan-fluoroaluminosilicate glass ionomer cement with added transforming growth factor beta-1 on pulp cells.

Introduction: Vital pulp therapy might benefit from the sustained release of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) from dental restorative materials. Chitosan has previously been shown to enable sustained release of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from glass ionomer cement (GIC). Because BSA can prolong release of growth factor, chitosan-fluoroaluminosilicate GIC with albumin (BIO-GIC) should sustain the effect of growth factor. This study investigated the effect of BIO-GIC with added TGF-β1 on pulp cells.

Methods: BIO-GIC was prepared from GIC (conventional type) incorporated with 15% of chitosan and 10% of BSA. TGF-β1 (100 ng) was added in BIO-GIC+TGF-β1 and GIC+TGF-β1 groups during each disk specimen (10 mm diameter, 1 mm high) preparation. Two control groups were BIO-GIC and GIC. The effect of each specimen on pulp cells was investigated by using the Transwell plate technique. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay at 2 time periods (each period lasting 3 days). Pulp cell differentiation was examined by alkaline phosphatase activity and also by cell mineralization, which was measured by calculating the area of mineralization with von Kossa staining.

Results: Percentage of viable cells of GIC+TGF-β1 group was the highest after the first period. This might suggest an initial rapid release of TGF-β1 from GIC. After the second period, BIO-GIC, BIO-GIC+TGF-β1, and GIC+TGF-β1 had more than 90% cell survival. It was significantly greater than GIC (82% ± 2%). There was no significant difference in alkaline phosphatase activity. BIO-GIC+TGF-β1 had the highest mineralization area during 21 days.

Conclusions: BIO-GIC could retain the effect of TGF-β1.