To evaluate the inflammatory reaction and the ability to induce mineralization activity of a new repair material, NeoPUTTY (NPutty; NuSmile, USA), in comparison with Bio-C Repair (BC; Angelus, Brazil) and MTA Repair HP (MTA HP; Angelus, Brazil).
Polyethylene tubes were filled with materials or kept empty (control group, CG) and implanted in subcutaneous tissue of rats for 7, 15, 30, and 60 days (n = 6/group). Capsule thickness, number of inflammatory cells (ICs), fibroblasts, collagen content, and von Kossa analysis were performed. Unstained sections were evaluated under polarized light and by immunohistochemistry for osteocalcin (OCN). Data were submitted to two-way anova followed by Tukey's test (p ≤ .05), except for OCN. OCN data were submitted to Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn and Friedman post hoc tests followed by the Nemenyi test at a significance level of 5%.
At 7, 15, and 30 days, thick capsules containing numerous ICs were seen around the materials. At 60 days, a moderate inflammatory reaction was observed for NPutty, BC while MTA HP presented thin capsules with moderate inflammatory cells. In all periods, NPutty specimens contained the highest values of ICs (p < .05). From 7 to 60 days, the number of ICs reduced significantly while an increase in the number of fibroblasts and birefringent collagen content was observed. At 7 and 15 days, no significant difference was observed in the immunoexpression of OCN (p > .05). At 30 and 60 days, NPutty showed the lowest values of OCN (p < .05). At 60 days, a similar immunoexpression was observed for BC and MTA HP (p > .05). In all time intervals, capsules around NPutty, BC, and MTA HP showed von Kossa-positive and birefringent structures.
Despite the greater inflammatory reaction promoted by NeoPutty than BC and MTA HP, the reduction in the thickness of capsules, the increase in the number of fibroblasts, and the reduction in the number of ICs indicate that this bioceramic material is biocompatible Furthermore, NeoPutty presents the ability to induce mineralization activity.