Bioactive glass incorporation into hydraulic cement altered physical properties.

Bioactive glass reduced solubility of hydraulic cement in clinically relevant fluid.

Hydration reaction of hydraulic cement was delayed by bioactive glass incorporation.

Bioactive glass did not impair the biological activity of the hydraulic cement.

Assess the effect of addition or replacement of bioactive glass (BG) on the physico-chemical, antibacterial and biological properties of radiopacified tricalcium silicate cement (TCS).

Four materials were tested: An experimental cement with 80 % TCS, 20 % zirconium oxide (TZ-base); two modified versions of TZ-base incorporating 20 % BG 45S5 either as TCS-replacement (TZ-bg-R) or addition (TZ-bg-A); and Biodentine (Septodont). Setting time was assessed using ISO 6876:2012 method. Materials were immersed in water or Dulbecco's modified eagle medium with 10 % fetal bovine serum (DMEM-sup). After seven days, water sorption and solubility were assessed using ISO 4049:2019 methods; water uptake and porosity were also calculated; leachate alkalinity and calcium release were assessed with a pH meter and inductively coupled plasma respectively; specimens were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analysis. At one-day, antibacterial properties of material surfaces and leachates were tested against Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms; leachate cytotoxicity and cytokine release were assessed with the 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazolyl-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Regression models were fitted for all dependent variables.

Compared to TZ-base, the BG-containing materials had overall increased water sorption, water uptake and porosity; decreased solubility in DMEM-sup; lower calcium release; and generally similar pH, antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity and cytokine release. All experimental cements were more cytotoxic than Biodentine, but the latter caused higher cytokine release.

The BG-incorporation whether added or replacing the cement decreased the solubility in clinically relevant media and did not deteriorate the antimicrobial and biological properties of the materials.

Characterization

Endodontics

Inflammatory potential

Root repair

Root-end filling

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Academy of Dental Materials.