The Influence of the Dextrin on L929 and MC3T3-E1 Cells

Recently, numerous clinical cases have required bone grafts, or the treatment bone defects using artificial bone filling materials in dentistry. However, it is difficult to treat the complicated shape of many bone defects with the commercially available bone filling materials. Therefore, the development of multi-purpose bone filling material has recently focused on Dextrin which shows a high viscosity.Objective: The biocompatibility of Dextrin in L929 fibroblast cells and MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was examined in order to evaluate its availability as an excipient of bone filling material. Methods: Dextrin, with a molecular weight of 2,000, was used in this experiment. Ten mmol/l, 1mmol/l or 0.1mmol/l of Dextrin was added in the cell culture medium. Then, L929 cells were cultured in these media, and the number of viable cells was calculated. The cell morphology was observed every 24 hours up to 96 hours. The MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days, and, the number of cells was calculated. An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay and ALP staining were performed on day 5, 7, 9 and 11. Medium only was used as a control for both experiments. Results: Significant differences were thus observed in the number of L929 cells between the control and 0.1mol/l or 1mmol/l experimental group after 48 hours or 96 hours culture (P<0.01). Significant differences were also seen in the number of MC3T3-E1 cells between the control and 0.1mol/l or 1mmol/l experimental group after 3 days or 7 days in culture (P<0.01). A significant amount of ALP activity was observed, thus indicating a significant cell proliferation of matured cells. Conclusion: The addition of a low concentration of Dextrin allowed for a good proliferation of both L929 and MC3T3-E1 cells. These findings indicate that Dextrin is an effective excipient of bone filling material for bone defects.