Development of a novel model for the investigation of implant-soft tissue interface.
BACKGROUND
In dental implant treatment, the long-term prognosis is dependent on the biologic seal formed by the soft tissue around the implant. The in vitro investigation of the implant-soft tissue interface is usually carried out using a monolayer cell-culture model that lacks a polarized-cell phenotype. This study developed a tissue-engineered three-dimensional oral mucosal model (3D OMM) to investigate the implant-soft tissue interface.


METHODS
A 3D OMM was constructed using primary human oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts cultured on a skin-derived scaffold at an air-liquid interface. A titanium implant was inserted into the engineered oral mucosa and further cultured to establish epithelial attachment. The 3D OMM was characterized using basic histology and immunostaining for cytokeratin (CK) 10 and CK13. Histomorphometric analyses of the implant-soft tissue interface were carried out using a light-microscopy (LM) examination of ground sections and semi-thin sections as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM).


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry analyses suggests that the engineered oral mucosa closely resembles the normal oral mucosa. The LM and SEM examinations reveal that the 3D OMM forms an epithelial attachment on the titanium surface.


CONCLUSIONS
The 3D OMM provided mimicking peri-implant features as seen in an in vivo model and has the potential to be used as a relevant alternative model to assess implant-soft tissue interactions.
Chai
Wen Lin
WL
Department of General Dental Practice and Oral and Maxillofacial Imaging, University of Malaya, Malaya, Malaysia. w.l.chai@sheffield.ac.uk
Moharamzadeh
Keyvan
K
Brook
Ian Michael
IM
Emanuelsson
Lena
L
Palmquist
Anders
A
van Noort
Richard
R
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D045662:Dental Etching; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D003775:Dental Polishing; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053550:Keratin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D053535:Keratin-13 / Q000032:analysis; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D012867:Skin; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014025:Titanium; D055815:Young Adult
D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D053535:Keratin-13; D053550:Keratin-10; D014025:Titanium