Effect of five dental pulp capping agents on cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis and mineralization of human dental pulp cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)(2)], mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), iRoot BP, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and concentrated growth factors (CGF) on the proliferation, viability, apoptosis and mineralization of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). HDPCs were treated with Ca(OH)(2), MTA, iRoot BP, PRF and CGF exudates. Cell viability, apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycle and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated in vitro. PRF significantly increased the cell proliferation as compared with that in the MTA and iRoot BP groups on day 3. The CGF group displayed higher proliferation rates as compared with that in the MTA group on days 3 and 7. The MTA group displayed the highest ALP activity on days 1 and 3, and the CGF group on day 7. Ca(OH)(2) inhibited cell proliferation and the percentages of dead and apoptotic cells were relatively higher in the Ca(OH)(2) group on days 1, 3 and 7 compared with those in the other groups. In conclusion, PRF and CGF may be potential pulp-capping materials for vital pulp therapy. Future in vivo studies are required to confirm this.