Practical whole-tooth restoration utilizing autologous bioengineered tooth germ transplantation in a postnatal canine model

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 16:7:44522. doi: 10.1038/srep44522.

Abstract

Whole-organ regeneration has great potential for the replacement of dysfunctional organs through the reconstruction of a fully functional bioengineered organ using three-dimensional cell manipulation in vitro. Recently, many basic studies of whole-tooth replacement using three-dimensional cell manipulation have been conducted in a mouse model. Further evidence of the practical application to human medicine is required to demonstrate tooth restoration by reconstructing bioengineered tooth germ using a postnatal large-animal model. Herein, we demonstrate functional tooth restoration through the autologous transplantation of bioengineered tooth germ in a postnatal canine model. The bioengineered tooth, which was reconstructed using permanent tooth germ cells, erupted into the jawbone after autologous transplantation and achieved physiological function equivalent to that of a natural tooth. This study represents a substantial advancement in whole-organ replacement therapy through the transplantation of bioengineered organ germ as a practical model for future clinical regenerative medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomedical Engineering / trends
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • Odontogenesis / physiology
  • Regeneration / physiology
  • Regenerative Medicine*
  • Stem Cells
  • Tissue Engineering*
  • Tooth / growth & development
  • Tooth / transplantation*
  • Tooth Eruption
  • Tooth Germ / physiology
  • Tooth Germ / transplantation*
  • Tooth Replantation
  • Transplantation, Autologous / methods