Fabrication and characterization of novel rapid-setting and anti-washout bioactive glass cements for direct pulp capping

Abstract

Although Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been widely used for pulp capping procedures and obtains outstanding clinical outcomes, too long setting time and poor anti-washout property of MTA still constrain its widespread applications. This study was aimed to develop a novel rapid-setting and washout resistance bioactive glass cements (BGC) via combining appropriate bioactive glass (BG) and brushite (DCPD) powders. Various ratios of BG and DCPD cement from 10B (10% BG in cement) to 70B (seven groups) had been prepared. The setting mechanism, setting time, compressive strength, degradability, pH, anti-washout and apatite-formation ability of the BGC were evaluated. The results showed that shorter setting time about 5 min and least degradability were achieved for 40–50B cements, and 30–40B cements held superior anti-washout performance. Moreover, the compressive strength varied form 1.48 ± 0.18 MPa (60B) to 12.04 ± 1.32 MPa (20B). Furthermore, all 10–70B BGC exhibited excellent apatite-formation ability and the surface of 30–50B preserved dense structure after immersion in simulated body fluids (SBF). What's more, the 40B cement also possessed good formability, and the extracts of 40B could effectively stimulate the proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). Overall, the properties of novel BGC could be adjusted effectively by the component and 40B bioactive glass cements possessed comprehensively superb performance, especially for rapid-setting and anti-washout properties, which had great potential as a new class pulp capping material.