Tissue Stabilization, Bacterial Adhesion, and Stem Cell Viability in Trans-cinnamaldehyde-conditioned Dentin.

Introduction: This laboratory study aimed to evaluate the effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) conditioning on dentin tissue stabilization, bacterial adhesion, and stem cell toxicity.

Methods: Dentin beams (n = 204) from extracted human molars were demineralized in phosphoric acid and treated with TC (2.5, 5, and 7.5%), 50% ethanol-water mixture (vehicle control) or 2.5% glutaraldehyde (GA) (positive control) for 30 minutes. Demineralized but untreated specimens served as the negative control. After treatment, collagen crosslinking was characterized by measuring the elastic modulus (E) and hardness (n = 5). Biodegradation resistance was examined by determining the loss of dry mass (n = 8), hydroxyproline release (n = 4) and scanning electron microscopy (n = 2), after exposure to bacterial collagenase. Inhibition of bacterial adhesion was investigated by colony counting assay (n = 12) and scanning electron microscopy (n = 2). Viability of stem cells of the apical papilla on TC-conditioned dentin was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay (n = 8). Data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test followed by Dunnett's multiple comparisons at a significance level of 5%.

Results: TC-conditioned dentin showed a concentration-dependent increase in E and hardness. The E and hardness of 5% and 7.5% TC-conditioned dentin were significantly greater than that of the negative control and vehicle control groups (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the biodegradation resistance between GA and 5% TC-conditioned dentin (P > .05). TC-conditioned dentin showed a well-preserved collagen fibril network with clear cross-banding, comparable to GA-conditioned dentin. All concentrations of TC inhibited bacterial adhesion on dentin, significantly greater than the negative control (P < .05). There was no reduction in viability of stem cells of the apical papilla viability on TC-conditioned dentin compared to the negative control (P > .05).

Conclusions: TC conditioning stabilized the dentin and protected it from enzymatic degradation. TC prevented bacterial adhesion on the dentin but maintained stem cell viability.