Early osteogenic cell response to a novel calcium aluminate cement

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a novel calcium aluminate cement (CAC+), which has been developed to overcome the negative features of the MTA, on the early events of the progression of the osteogenic phenotype in vitro. Methods: CAC+ and MTA samples (4 mm in diameter and 2 mm height) were fixed in the center of glass coverslips and sterilized by gamma rays prior to cell culturing. Osteogenic cells were enzimatically isolated from newborn rat calvarial bone, plated on glass coverslips containing either CAC+ or control MTA samples, and grown under standard osteogenic conditions for periods of up to 10 days. The following parameters were assessed: cell morphology by epifluorescence, total cell number by Trypan blue exclusion assay, cell viability by reduction of tetrazolium salt to formazan (MTT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by biochemical assay (µmol thymolphthalein/h/mg protein). Comparisons were carried out using One-Way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results: Over the 10-day culture period, roundening of sample edges was clearly noticed only for the MTA group. Although both cements supported osteogenic cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation, CAC+-exposed cultures showed significantly higher values in terms of total cell number at days 3 and 7, and total protein content and ALP activity at day 10 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present in vitro results indicate that the exposure to CAC+ supports a higher differentiation of osteogenic cells compared with the ones exposed to MTA. Further experimental studies should consider CAC+ as a potential alternative to MTA when the repair of mineralized tissues is one of the desired outcomes in Endodontic therapy. Supported by the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grants number 2009/53310-1, 2010/50936-4) and National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).