In vitro bioactivity of AH plus with the addition of nano-magnesium hydroxide

BACKGROUND: AH Plus (AH) has been widely used as a root canal sealer in the endodontic field due to its superior physicochemical properties. However, clinical application of AH is limited due to its weak bioactivity. METHODS: In this study, we have developed an AH cement containing nano-magnesium hydroxide (NMH) as an additive to enhance the bioactivity of AH. The NMH can neutralize pH and facilitate bone formation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of NMH and modified AH on osteoblasts behavior in vitro. The CCK-8, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used to assess the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, respectively. The adhesion and spreading of MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated in vitro by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Meanwhile, the flow and magnesium ion release of the modified AH was also concerned. RESULTS: In vitro cell assays further showed that the addition of NMH into AH cement, which was denoted as modified AH (especially AH+3%NMH), could effectively improve the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken all together, we believe that the modified AH samples (especially AH+3%NMH) have outstanding biocompatibility and osteogenic properties and may have great potential in endodontic field.