Comparative evaluation of radiopacity and cytotoxicity of platelet-rich fibrin, platelet-rich fibrin + 50wt% nano-hydroxyapatite, platelet-rich fibrin + 50wt% dentin chips: An in vitro study

AIMS: The aim of this study is to impart radiopacity to platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) using two different bioactive agents (nano-hydroxyapatite [nHA] and dentin chips [DC]) and to assess the cell proliferation rate induced by the modified PRF. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS: PRF was modified with 50wt% of nHA (G bone-SHAG31, Surgiwear Company) and 50wt% of DC. The five samples of each group (Group 1 – dentin disc, Group 2 – PRF, Group 3 – PRF + 50wt% nHA, and Group 4-PRF + 50wt% DC) were digitally radiographed together with 8-mm aluminum stepwedge using DIGORA software (for Windows 2.9.113.490). The aluminum equivalent of radiopacity of the samples was compared with the dentin disc (control). Further cytotoxicity (on L929 mouse fibroblast cell lines) among the groups was assessed using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: One-way ANOVA with posthoc Tukey-honestly significant difference tests were applied to assess the significance among the various groups. RESULTS: The mean aluminum equivalent radiopacity among each group showed statistically significant results with P < 0.05. Group 3 (PRF + 50wt% nHA) can achieve an aluminum equivalent radiopacity (1.51 ± 0.089) better than Group 4 (0.97 ± 0.22 mmAl). The cell viability was >73% for all groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the addition of bioactive radiopacifiers into PRF was able to impart radiopacity and these biomaterials were proved to be noncytotoxic.