title: Self-assembling peptide amphiphile nanofibers as a scaffold for dental stem cells.
abstract: Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world. So far, available treatment methods rely on the replacement of decayed soft and mineralized tissue with inert biomaterials alone. As an approach to develop novel regenerative strategies and engineer dental tissues, two dental stem cell lines were combined with peptide-amphiphile (PA) hydrogel scaffolds. PAs self-assemble into three-dimensional networks of nanofibers, and living cells can be encapsulated. Cell-matrix interactions were tailored by incorporation of the cell adhesion sequence RGD and an enzyme-cleavable site. SHED (stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth) and DPSC (dental pulp stem cells) were cultured in PA hydrogels for 4 weeks using different osteogenic supplements. Both cell lines proliferate and differentiate within the hydrogels. Histologic analysis shows degradation of the gels and extracellular matrix production. However, distinct differences between the two cell lines can be observed. SHED show a spindle-shaped morphology, high proliferation rates, and collagen production, resulting in soft tissue formation. In contrast, DPSC reduce proliferation, but exhibit an osteoblast-like phenotype, express osteoblast marker genes, and deposit mineral. Since the hydrogels are easy to handle and can be introduced into small defects, this novel system might be suitable for engineering both soft and mineralized matrices for dental tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, TAMUHSC-Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
authors.forename: Kerstin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Galler
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavender
authors.forename: Virany
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yuwono
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Songtao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmalz
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hartgerink
authors.forename: Rena N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: D'Souza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005994:Glycerophosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D005994:Glycerophosphates; D010455:Peptides; D003907:Dexamethasone; C031463:beta-glycerophosphoric acid