Calcium sulfate has a long history of medical use as an implant material. The biocompatibility of the material has been clearly established. Bone ingrowth concomitant with resorption occurs rapidly with efficient conduction of bone from particle to particle. Calcium sulfate also has a potential for functioning as a good barrier membrane.

The purpose of this study was to compare the biocompatibility of different types of calcium sulfate grafting materials including an experimental calcium sulfate compound on periodontal ligament cells in vitro as a preliminary test towards the development of a more convenient and useful form of grafting material which could promote regeneration of periodontal tissue. Human periodontal ligament cells were collected from the premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment. Cells were cultured in αMEM culture medium containing 20% FBS, at 37℃ and 100% humidity, in a 5% CO2 incubator. Cells were cultured into 96 well culture plate 1×104cells per well with α-MEM and incubated for 24 hours. After discarding the medium, those cells were cultured in α-MEM contained with 10% FBS alone(control group), in medcal-grade calcium sulfate(MGCS group), in plaster(plaster group), experimental calcium sulfate paste(CS paste group) for 1, 2, 3 day respectively. And then each group was characterized by examining of the cell counting, MTT assay, collagen synthesis.

The results were as follows.

1. In the analysis of cell proliferation by cell counting, both medical-grade calcium sulfate group and plaster group showed no stastically significant difference at day 1, 2, 3 accept for plaster group at day 1 compared to control group, but there was stastically significant difference between CS paste group and all other groups at day 1, 2, 3(P<0.05).

2. In the analysis of cytotoxicity by MTT assay, both medical-grade calcium sulfate group and plaster group showed no stastically significant difference compared to control group at day 1, 2, 3 but there was stastically significant difference between CS paste group and all other groups at day 1, 2, 3(P<0.05).

3. In the analysis of collagen synthesis by immunoblotting assay, high level was detected for medical-grade calcium sulfate group and plaster group at day 1, 2, 3 compared to CS paste group. On the basis of these results, medical-grade calcium sulfate and plaster was shown to possess biocompatibility whereas the CS paste had unfavourable outcome. This observation shows a need for modification of the materials contained in calcium sulfate paste.