Zirconium oxide and niobium oxide used as radiopacifiers in a calcium silicate‐based material stimulate fibroblast proliferation and collagen formation

Aim To evaluate the influence of the addition of microparticulate (micro) and nanoparticulate (nano) zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) to a calcium silicate‐based cement (CS) on the subcutaneous healing process in rats compared with MTA Angelus™. Methodology In each rat, two polyethylene tubes filled with the following materials: (i) MTA; (ii) CS + ZrO2micro; (iii) CS + ZrO2nano; (iv) CS + Nb2O5micro or (v) CS + Nb2O5nano were implanted subcutaneously; empty polyethylene tubes were used in the Control group. After 7, 15, 30 and 60 days, the specimens (n = 5 per group in each period) were fixed and embedded in paraffin. Masson's trichrome sections were used to obtain the volume density of the inflammatory cells (VvIC) and fibroblasts (VvFb). The sections were also stained with Picrosirius‐red to calculate the birefringent collagen content. Fibroblast growth factor‐1 (FGF‐1) was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the number of immunolabelled cells was obtained. The data were subjected to two‐way anova followed by Tukey's test (P ≤ 0.05). Results At all periods, the VvIC was significantly lower (P