Cytotoxicity assessment of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste

Abstract

Introduction: Casein phosphopeptides (CPP) have been shown to be good carriers of calcium, phosphate, and hydroxide ions to promote enamel remineralization with applications in oral care products, professional dental products, and food products. Objectives: Evaluate the cytotoxicity of a casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste in rat fibroblasts. Materials and methods: Cytotoxicity was measured by the Trypan blue dye exclusion assay and the MTT assay. Results: Long term (1, 3, 5, and 7 days) and short term tests (0, 4, 8, and 12 hours) were performed with the Trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Kruskall Wallis tests. After one day, the cell viability of the CPP-ACP study group was between 80 and 100%. In the short term experiments, a reduction of cell viability in the study group was observed compared with the control group; yet viable cells were present over the evaluation period. With the MTT assay, a viability of 76.43% was observed in the study group, a significant difference from the control group (P = 0.003). Conclusion: CPP-ACP paste demonstrates low cytotoxicity in rat fibroblast culture.