Cytotoxicity test of 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitic anhydride-based dentine bonding material using acetone solution in dental pulp fibroblast

Aims and Objectives: Both carious and non-carious lesions covering large dentine areas are indisputable indications of the need to use dentine bonding. Clinically, dental preparation, which is subsequently subjected to dentine bonding application often results in post-restorative pain. Various studies suggest that post-restorative pain is caused by the presence of residual monomers from the imperfect polymerization of a bonding material. The residual monomer can be a free radical that will induce oxidative stress conditions producing a toxic effect on 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitic anhydride (4-META) monomer as the base material of dentine bonding. The aim of the study was to determine the toxic concentration of 4-META dentine bonding material using acetone as a solvent that destroys 50% of the dental pulp fibroblast cells. Materials and Methods: Human pulp fibroblast cells contained in each well were treated with 4-META-Acetone solution at concentrations of 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 312.5, 156.25, 78.12, 39.06, 19.53, and 9.76 μg/mL. Two wells were left untreated to form the control group. A cytotoxicity test was performed by means of an 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-Assay test. The optical density of each well was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader and the percentage of human pulp fibroblast cell destroyed was calculated using the appropriate formula. Results: The concentration of 4-META-based dentine bonding with acetone solvent capable of causing 50% human pulp fibroblast cell death (LC₅₀) was 1250 μg/mL. Conclusion: Toxic concentrations are those greater than or equal to 1250 μg/mL.