Ca. Lefebvre et al., RESPONSES OF ORAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS TO DENTAL RESIN COMPONENTS, Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer ed., 7(11), 1996, pp. 965-976
The light-polymerized resins used in dentistry and their various const
ituents have been shown to produce significant levels of cytotoxicity,
depending upon the material and the cell type exposed to it. These re
sponses include altered cell growth and macromolecule synthesis. The c
urrent study examined the effects of several resin components on growt
h and lipid metabolism of oral epithelial cells. Resin discs were fabr
icated from triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) as received from
the manufacturer and after removal of the stabilizer methyl ether hyd
roquinone (MEHQ). Some discs also contained the initiators benzoyl per
oxide (BPO) and camphoroquinone (CQ), and/or an activator. dimethylami
noethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). After polymerization, the ability of co
mponents to elute from the discs and alter cell growth and lipid synth
esis were assayed by a colorimetric method and thin layer chromatograp
hy respectively. Purified TEGDMA had little effect on the cells' growt
h or lipid metabolism. while TEGDMA containing MEHQ did inhibit growth
as well as total polar lipid synthesis. Eluates from discs containing
DMAEMA inhibited cell growth as well as decreasing polar lipid format
ion. However, this same material produced increased synthesis of digly
cerides and cholesterol esters. Eluates from BPO-containing discs. as
well as those with CQ, with or without DMAEMA resulted in increased le
vels of diglycerides. These results demonstrate that even after polyme
rization, components used in dental resins may elute into the immediat
e environment and alter various cell metabolic processes.