Physicochemical and biological properties of three calcium silicate-based root canal sealers
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontology, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- 2Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment for Oral Infectious Diseases, Nanning, China
- 3Department of Oral Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- 4Department of Stomatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Abstract
Background: Calcium silicate based root canal sealers exhibit diverse physicochemical and biological properties that may influence periapical tissue responses. This study compared three sealers, Grey MTA Plus (MP), BioRoot RCS (BR), and Bio C Sealer (BC), using ProRoot MTA (PM) as a mechanistic reference material. Methods: Physicochemical properties, including pH, solubility in deionized water (n = 5), and elemental release (Ca, P, Bi, Pb, K, Mg; n = 3), were evaluated. Human periodontal ligament cells were used to assess cytotoxicity by CCK 8 assay, mineralization by Alizarin Red S staining, and gene and protein expression of IL 6 and MMP 1 by qRT PCR, ELISA, and Western blot (n = 3 independent experiments). MAPK pathway activation was analyzed in cells treated with BR. Statistical analysis was performed using one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test after verification of assumptions. Results: All materials exhibited alkaline pH values above 11. BC and BR showed higher solubility than PM under the tested conditions, whereas PM and MP released higher levels of calcium and were associated with increased mineralization. BC and BR reduced cell viability at higher concentrations and longer exposure times, particularly under serum free conditions. IL6 mRNA expression was reduced in BC and BR, but IL 6 protein levels were unchanged. In contrast, BR increased MMP 1 protein secretion. BR also induced phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK1 2, and inhibition of these pathways reduced MMP 1 secretion. Conclusion: PM and MP showed higher calcium release and were associated with increased mineralization, whereas BC and BR showed higher solubility and concentration dependent cytotoxicity. BR increased MMP-1 secretion and was associated with MAPK activation. These findings are based on in vitro conditions and should be interpreted with caution.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026physicochemical,
title = {{Physicochemical and biological properties of three calcium silicate-based root canal sealers}},
author = {Xianyu Li and He Liu and Lari Häkkinen and Guoqiao Jiang and Binwen Chen and Markus Haapasalo and Ya Shen},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0359096},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359096},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Physicochemical and biological properties of three calcium silicate-based root canal sealers
AU - Xianyu Li
AU - He Liu
AU - Lari Häkkinen
AU - Guoqiao Jiang
AU - Binwen Chen
AU - Markus Haapasalo
AU - Ya Shen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0359096
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359096
AB - Background: Calcium silicate based root canal sealers exhibit diverse physicochemical and biological properties that may influence periapical tissue responses. This study compared three sealers, Grey MTA Plus (MP), BioRoot RCS (BR), and Bio C Sealer (BC), using ProRoot MTA (PM) as a mechanistic reference material. Methods: Physicochemical properties, including pH, solubility in deionized water (n = 5), and elemental release (Ca, P, Bi, Pb, K, Mg; n = 3), were evaluated. Human periodontal ligament cells were used to assess cytotoxicity by CCK 8 assay, mineralization by Alizarin Red S staining, and gene and protein expression of IL 6 and MMP 1 by qRT PCR, ELISA, and Western blot (n = 3 independent experiments). MAPK pathway activation was analyzed in cells treated with BR. Statistical analysis was performed using one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test after verification of assumptions. Results: All materials exhibited alkaline pH values above 11. BC and BR showed higher solubility than PM under the tested conditions, whereas PM and MP released higher levels of calcium and were associated with increased mineralization. BC and BR reduced cell viability at higher concentrations and longer exposure times, particularly under serum free conditions. IL6 mRNA expression was reduced in BC and BR, but IL 6 protein levels were unchanged. In contrast, BR increased MMP 1 protein secretion. BR also induced phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK1 2, and inhibition of these pathways reduced MMP 1 secretion. Conclusion: PM and MP showed higher calcium release and were associated with increased mineralization, whereas BC and BR showed higher solubility and concentration dependent cytotoxicity. BR increased MMP-1 secretion and was associated with MAPK activation. These findings are based on in vitro conditions and should be interpreted with caution.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -