Cytocompatibility of calcium hydroxide medicament combined with cationic peptide - An in vitro study on L929 fibroblast cells.

BACKGROUND

Intracanal medication is recommended after the debridement of the canal to eliminate bacteria to prevent apical periodontitis. Combining calcium hydroxide (CH) with DJK-5 peptide will improve the penetration of medicament into root canal dentin.

AIM: This study was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of a combination of DJK-5 peptide with CH on murine fibroblast cells.

SETTINGS AND

DESIGN

This is an in vitro experimental study performed using the L929 fibroblast cells.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

L929 fibroblast cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium and administered with DJK-5 peptide at a concentration of 10 µg/mL, CH+ saline, CH+ 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), 2% CHX, and CH+ DJK-5 for 24 h and 48 h. Cytotoxicity assessment of the treatments was carried out using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and Live/Dead assay by acridine orange and ethidium bromide dual-fluorescence staining.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way analysis of variance was used for group-wise comparison of cytotoxicity of the test compounds. Pairwise comparison between groups was analyzed by Tukey's test.

RESULTS

The DJK-5-treated group exhibited no cytotoxicity at 24 h and 48 h and exposure time points. Highest cytotoxicity was exerted by the 2% CHX-treated group, which increased when combined with CH, and the cytotoxicity increased with time. Combining the DJK-5 with CH reduced the cytotoxicity when compared to CH or CHX alone.

CONCLUSIONS

At its used 2% concentration, CHX was found to exhibit high cytotoxicity. The least cytotoxicity was found in DJK-5-treated cells, and it also significantly alleviated the cytotoxicity rendered by CH treatment.