Aim To examine the potential systemic toxicity of
nanostructured materials based on calcium silicate
and calcium aluminate, for potential application in
Dentistry.
Methodology Twenty-four Albino Wistar rats aged
2 months were used as an in vivo animal model for sub-
cutaneous implantation of the investigated materials,
placed in polyethylene tubes. Thirty days after implanta-
tion, the livers of the rats were analysed and following
histological and stereological parameters were evaluated
for volume density of hepatocytes and blood sinusoids,
number and numerical density of hepatocytes, surface
of hepatocytes and their nucleuses, nucleocytoplasmic
ratio and mitotic index of hepatocytes. Stereological
measurements were achieved using Cavalieri’s principle,
with grid P2 and unbiased analysis. Additionally,
immunohistochemistry studies were performed to fur-
ther analyse changes in liver tissue. Several haematolog-
ical and biochemical parameters of blood of
experimental animals were also analysed, as well as
local tissue reactions around the implants. Statistical
analysis was performed using parametric (ANOVA and t-
test) and nonparametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis and
Mann–Whitney U-test) depending on data distribution.
Results Implanted dental cements led to an increase
in stereological and histological parameters in liver
tissue compared to control rats. Although the investi-
gated parameters mostly showed significant differ-
ences between control and experimental animals, the
liver tissue of the experimental animals did not have
visible signs of pathological changes. This was sup-
ported by the analysis of blood parameters which
were not significantly different between control and
experimental animals. Also, the subcutaneous tissues
had minimal inflammatory reactions. Immunohisto-
chemistry studies revealed that nanostructured mate-
rials induced proliferation of hepatocytes, but that the
immunological response to the materials was not
strong enough to induce proliferation of immunoreac-
tive cells in liver in the observed time period.
Conclusions This study was performed as a contri-
bution to the attestation of the biocompatibility of dental
cements based on calcium silicate and calcium alumi-
nate. Although these materials induced several changes
in the liver structure, they were not clinically relevant
and represent a normal and reversible response of the
liver to the presence of biocompatible materials in the
body. Blood and immunohistochemistry analyses and
local tissue reactions further confirmed that these mate-
rials possess good biocompatible potential.