Cytotoxicity of chitosan-loaded triple antibiotic paste versus conventional triple antibiotic paste on dental pulp stem cells: An in vitro study.

Background: Triple antibiotic paste (TAP) is a commonly used intracanal medicament in regenerative endodontics. However, its cytotoxic effects on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) remain a concern. Incorporating chitosan into TAP may enhance its biocompatibility while retaining antimicrobial properties.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the cytotoxicity of chitosan-loaded TAP (Ch-TAP) with conventional TAP on DPSCs at varying concentrations and time intervals.

Materials and methods: DPSCs were exposed to Ch-TAP and TAP at concentrations of 0.1-100. Cell viability was assessed at 1-4 weeks using an MTT assay. The results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test to identify differences in cytotoxic effects between groups.

Results: Ch-TAP demonstrated superior cell viability at all concentrations compared to TAP. The highest cell viability was observed with Ch-TAP at 0.1 mg/mL, maintaining 96% viability at 1 week and 85% at 4 weeks. Higher concentrations of both pastes exhibited a dose dependent decrease in cell viability, with Ch-TAP consistently showing less cytotoxicity. TAP at 100 mg/mL exhibited the highest cytotoxicity, reducing viability to 20% by the 4^th week.

Conclusion: Ch-TAP showed significantly lower cytotoxicity and better biocompatibility with DPSCs compared to conventional TAP, particularly at lower concentrations.