Development of a novel aluminum-free glass ionomer cement based on magnesium/strontium-silicate glasses

• We developed multicomponent glass compositions for a novel aluminum-free glass ionomer cement (GIC).
• The effects of MgO replacement with SrO in the glasses on the mechanical properties and cell proliferation were evaluated.
• Substitution of MgO with SrO at low levels led to improvement of mechanical properties and cell viability of the cements.
• Microstructural degradations in the cement matrix of the GICs with strontium at high levels were observed after aging.

The effects of strontium substitution for magnesium in a novel aluminum-free multicomponent glass composition for glass ionomer cements (GICs) were investigated. A series of glass compositions were prepared based on SiO2-P2O5-CaO-ZnO-MgO(1-X)-SrOX-CaF2 (X = 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75). The mechanical properties of GICs prepared were characterized by compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural modules, and microhardness. Cell proliferation was evaluated indirectly by CCK-8 assay using various dilutions of the cement and rat mesenchyme stem cells. Incorporation of strontium instead of magnesium in the glasses has a significant influence on setting time of the cements and the properties. All mechanical properties of the GICs with SrO substitution at X = 0.25 were significantly increased, then gradually decreased with further increase of the amount of strontium substitution in the glass. The GIC at X = 0.25, also, showed an improved cell viability at low doses of the cement extracts in comparison with other groups or control without extracts. The results of this study demonstrate that the glass compositions with strontium substitution at low levels can be successfully used to prepare aluminum-free glass ionomer cements for repair and regeneration of hard tissues.

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