INCREASED PROPERTIES AND CITOCOMPATIBILITY OF ZINC OXIDE-MAGNESIUM CEMENT

Zinc oxide-magnesium has been used in dentistry with limitations especially related to its high acidity and low biocompatibility. The objective of this study was to develop cement based on nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), chitosan as more biocompatibility agents to increase zinc oxide-magnesium cito-compatibility. The formulations prepared were: 1. Complete cement (HCP) with nHA, zinc oxide-magnesium, and chitosan; 2. cement without nHA (CP); 3. Without chitosan (HP); 4. Without zinc oxide-magnesium (HC), and CPZn as control. All cement were compared for setting times, solubility, contact angle, pH, calcium ion release, shear strength, the thermogravimetry analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, 3T3-L1 fibroblasts cell compatibility, and antimicrobial activity. The results showed that HCP cement had setting time (mean ± S.D) of 5.5 ± 0.18 min, (p≥0.05) and neutral pH values on 14 days, calcium release of 10 mgL^-1, and solubility with a value of 2.15%. The physicochemical characterization showed an expected pattern from the raw materials and composition. The values of the contact angle measurements indicated increased wettability for the HCP than the control cement. The zinc oxide-magnesium presence was important to improve the mechanical strength. HCP and HC cement had similar fibroblast compatibility and significantly higher than the others (p≤ 0.05). The experimental cement showed antimicrobial activity against P.g, F.n, A.a, and S.aon the diffusion agar test higher than control cement (17.6 ± 1.1 mm) p≤ 0.05. These studies indicated that this cement showed appropriate physicochemical properties with high cytocompatibility, maintaining its resistance and antimicrobial action, suggesting be beneficial in dentistry.