Comparative cell attachment, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of radiopaque dicalcium silicate cement and white-coloured mineral trioxide aggregate

Aim: To comparatively examine the cell attachment, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial activity of radiopaque dicalcium silicate cement (RDSC) and ProRoot white-coloured mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA). Methodology: AlamarBlue was used for real-time and repeated monitoring of MG63 cell attachment on freshly mixed and set cements. The pH changes in the growth medium at different time-points were also measured. Cytotoxicity evaluation was performed according to ISO 10993-5 specifications. The antibacterial activity of the cement specimens was evaluated using Enterococcus faecalis. Results: There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the two cements for cell attachment either in the fresh groups or in the set groups at all culture times. Neither freshly mixed group nor set groups had significant pH differences. In the case of cytotoxicity, RDSC was significantly (P < 0.05) superior to WMTA at 12 and 24 h of incubation. RDSC and WMTA possessed similar antimicrobial activity, substantiated by the formation of growth inhibition zones and bacteriostasis ratio in E. faecalis strains. Conclusions: The cell attachment, cytotoxicity and antibacterial efficacy of RDSC were comparable to those reported for ProRoot WMTA. The results of the current study suggest that this RDSC could be used as a root-end filling material and root sealer.