In vitro cytotoxic effects of different intracanal medicaments on the co-culture of dental mesenchymal stem cells using the MTT assay

Aim: This in vitro study aimed to assess the cytotoxic effects of different intracanal medicaments on the co-culture of dental mesenchymal stem cells. Materials and Methods: The Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells (PDLSCs) and the stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAPs) were isolated from a human teeth. The cells were passaged and underwent mono- culture and co- culture. The cells were then exposed to different concentrations of calcium hydroxide/chlorhexidine, calcium hydroxide/distilled water, double antibiotic paste/chlorhexidine, and double antibiotic paste/distilled water. The cytotoxicity and cell viability was evaluated and data were analyzed by independent t- test, ANOVA, and Tukey's test (alpha=0.05). Results: The viability of PDLSCs in co-culture was higher than that in mono-culture following exposure to different concentrations of medicaments. However, when distilled water was used as the vehicle for intracanal medicaments, the viability of SCAPs in mono-culture was higher than that in co-culture. In use of DAP/CHX, the viability of SCAP in co- culture was higher than that in mono-culture (P=0.000). This difference was not significant in exposure of SCAP to DAP/CHX (P>0.05). Conclusions: Generally, the viability of PDLSCs in co-culture was higher than that in mono-culture, and distilled water was a better vehicle than CHX for intracanal medicaments.