Identification of 2,3-epoxymethacrylic acid as an intermediate in the metabolism of dental materials in human liver microsomes

Objectives In previous studies it could be demonstrated that methacrylic acid (MA) is an intermediate in the metabolism of unpolymerized dental comonomers, released from dental restorative materials. This study was performed to identify the possible dental material intermediate 2,3-epoxymethacrylic acid (2,3-EMA) from MA in human liver microsomes. Most epoxy compounds are regarded as highly toxic substances. Methods The formation and hydrolysis were studied in defined systems containing only MA and human liver microsomes at 37 °C. Hydrolysis was inhibited by cyclohexene oxide, a competitive inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase. The reaction product 2,3-EMA was analyzed by the headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. After 5, 30, and 60 min samples were taken and analyzed. Results For the reaction of MA to 2,3-EMA the average conversion rate was about 5% within 1 h. It was found that without cyclohexene oxide the rate constant of enzymatic hydrolysis at pH 7.4 was about 10 times higher than the rate constant of the formation from MA in combination with cyclohexene oxide (k = 8.3 versus 0.83 μmol/l min), indicating an instability and thus a high reactivity of 2,3-EMA. The formation of the MA intermediate 2,3-EMA was not observed when heat-inactivated liver microsomes were used (controls). Significance It could be clearly demonstrated that 2,3-EMA is a product of dental material metabolisms in biological systems. Therefore, increased toxicity might occur on dental restorative materials which are able to release (co)monomers which can be metabolized to MA.