Regeneration of Tooth with Allogenous, Autoclaved Treated Dentin Matrix with Dental Pulpal Stem Cells: An In Vivo Study

Abstract

Introduction: Biomaterials designed for tissue engineering should be nontoxic and nonimmunogenic and should achieve their intended functions. Treated dentin matrix (TDM), a bioactive extracellular matrix, is promising for tooth regeneration. However, the effect of sterilization on the surface properties of allogenous TDM in the animal model is unclear.

Methods: The biological characteristics and influences of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) with autoclaved TDM (a-TDM) were studied using scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in vitro. In addition, a-TDM was implanted in a mouse model for 6 weeks and was a substrate with DPSCs for tooth reconstruction in a goat animal model in vivo.

Results: Allogenous a-TDM induced and supported DPSCs to develop new dentin pulp-like tissues, enamel dental pulp, and cementum periodontal complexes. Immunohistochemistry data showed that the markers dentin sialoprotein, βⅢ-tubulin, dentin matrix protein 1, amelogenin, VIII factors, type I collagen, cementum-derived attachment protein, and scleraxis transcription factor were positive stained in toothlike tissue.

Conclusions: Allogenous a-TDM served as an effective scaffold enabling DPSCs to proliferate and differentiate into a broad array of resident cells including odontoblasts, fibroblasts, vascular cells, and neural endings. Allogenous a-TDM with DPSCs can provide an ideal biomaterial for optimizing the regeneration of tooth material.

Keywords: Autoclaved; dental pulp stem cells; in vivo study; tissue engineering; treated dentin matrix.