The in vitro adsorption and retention of liposomes onto four common types of dental restorative materials (conventional and silorane-based resin composites as well as conventional and resin-modified glass ionomer cements (GIC)) have been investigated due to their potential use in the oral cavity.

Polymer-based dental restorative materials are designed to polymerize in situ. However, the conversion of methacrylate monomer to polymer is never complete, and leakage of the monomer occurs. It has been shown that these monomers are toxic in vitro; hence concerns regarding exposure of patients and dental personnel have been raised.

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate possible involvement of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in modifying the toxic potential of 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA). Primary cultures of CYP expressing rat alveolar type 2 cells were exposed to varying concentrations of HEMA. Nuclear translocation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) after HEMA exposure (100 μM) was demonstrated by immunocytochemical staining.