Abstract Denture adhesives (DA) improve the retention and stability of ill-fitting dentures, especially for older adults. These materials should be biocompatible, i.e., they cannot cause undesired biological responses and be non-cytotoxic to oral tissues. However, in vitro testing of DA biocompatibility employing primary cell culture may possibly be affected by other factors, such as the donor age. Objective To compare the cytotoxicity of three different denture adhesives when assessed in primary gingival fibroblasts from a young donor or from an older donor, as well as the release of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and the inflammatory response marker interleukin-6 (IL-6). Material and Methods Gingival fibroblasts isolated from a 30- and a 62-year-old donor were assayed for proliferation (1-7 days) and sensitivity to latex (positive control). Fibroblasts were indirectly exposed to Corega Ultra (cream), Corega powder and Fixodent Original for a 24 h period and assayed by XTT and Crystal Violet tests. The release of IL-6 and bFGF by exposed cells was determined by ELISA. Results While cells from the young donor presented higher cell growth after 7 days, the sensitivity to increasing concentrations of latex extracts was very similar between young and older cells. Both XTT and CVDE detected no difference between the DA and the control group. All materials induced higher levels of IL-6 and bFGF compared to control. Cells from the older donor exposed to Corega Ultra released lower levels of cytokine and growth factor. Conclusions All materials were considered non-cytotoxic, but affected cytokine and growth factor release. The biological differences found between fibroblasts from both donors could be due to individual or age-related factors. The authors suggest the use of cells from older donors on studies of dental products aimed at older patients, to better simulate their physiological response.

Resumo O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a influência do sistema fotoiniciador sobre as propriedades físico-químicas de compósitos fluidos. Os compósitos convencionais foram compostos por bisfenol-glicidil dimetacrilato (BisGMA) + trietilenoglicol dimetacrilato (TEGDMA), e os autoadesivos, apresentavam BisGMA +TEGDMA+ Bis2(metacriloiloxi)etil fosfato (2 MP). Cinco sistemas fotoiniciadores foram testados: canforquinona + etil-4- dimetilamino benzoato (CQ+EDMAB), óxido mono-alquil fosfínico (TPO) e óxido bis-alquil fosfínico (BAPO), CQ+EDMAB+TPO e CQ+EDMAB+BAPO. LED de amplo espectro foi usado; o grau de conversão (GC) e a taxa de polimerização (TP) foram determinados por espectroscopia próximo ao infravermelho; o grau de amarelo foi mensurado por um espectrofotômetro e absorção de água foi obtida após 30 dias de armazenamento em água (n=5). Os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância de dois fatores e teste de Tukey (?=0,05). BAPO apresentou os maiores valores de GC e TP nos compósitos convencionais e autoadesivos. Compósitos autoadesivos apresentaram menor GC e TP quando CQ+EDMAB foi usado. Maior amarelecimento foi observado nos compósitos autoadesivos em relação aos convencionais, exceto para BAPO. Compósitos autoadesivos promoveram maior absorção de água. Não houve influência dos fotoiniciadores nos compósitos convencionais, no entanto TPO e BAPO apresentaram os maiores valores de absorção de água nos compósitos autoadesivos. Os sistemas fotoiniciadores influenciaram de maneira diferente as propriedades físico-químicas dos compósitos convencionais e autoadesivos.

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the influence of photoinitiator systems on physical-chemical properties of flowable composites. Conventional (CFC), composed by bisphenol-glycidyl dimethacrylate (BisGMA)+triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), and self-adhesive (SAFC), composed by BisGMA+TEDGMA+bis{2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl} phosphate (2MP), flowable composites were developed. Five photoinitiator systems were tested: camphorquinone (CQ), ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDMAB), diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (TPO), phenylbis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (BAPO), CQ+EDMAB+TPO and CQ+EDMAB+BAPO. A two-peak LED was used; degree of conversion (DC) and the maximum polymerization rate (RPmax) were determined by near infrared spectroscopy. For the yellowing degree a spectrophotometer was used. Water sorption (Wsp) was obtained after 30 days of water storage (n=5). Data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (a=0.05). BAPO presented the highest DC and RPmax values for both series. SAFCs presented lower DC and RPmax for CQ+EDMAB-based materials. Greater yellowing was observed for SAFCs compared with CFCs, except for BAPO. Greater Wsp was observed for SAFCs compared with CFCs. The photoinitiator did not influence Wsp for CFCs, but TPO and BAPO presented the highest Wsp in SAFCs. The photoinitiator system affected differently the physical-chemical properties of CFCs and SAFCs.