The use of zein and Shuanghuangbu for periodontal tissue engineering.
OBJECTIVE
Tissue engineering is a promising area with a broad range of applications in the fields of regenerative medicine and human health. The emergence of periodontal tissue engineering for clinical treatment of periodontal disease has opened a new therapeutic avenue. The choice of scaffold is crucial. This study was conducted to prepare zein scaffold and explore the suitability of zein and Shuanghuangbu for periodontal tissue engineering.


METHODS
A zein scaffold was made using the solvent casting/particulate leaching method with sodium chloride (NaCl) particles as the porogen. The physical properties of the zein scaffold were evaluated by observing its shape and determining its pore structure and porosity. Cytotoxicity testing of the scaffold was carried out via in vitro cell culture experiments, including a liquid extraction experiment and the direct contact assay. Also, the Chinese medicine Shuanghuangbu, as a growth factor, was diluted by scaffold extract into different concentrations. This Shuanghuangbu-scaffold extract was then added to periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) in order to determine its effect on cell proliferation.


RESULTS
The zein scaffold displayed a sponge-like structure with a high porosity and sufficient thickness. The porosity and pore size of the zein scaffold can be controlled by changing the porogen particles dosage and size. The porosity was up to 64.1%-78.0%. The pores were well-distributed, interconnected, and porous. The toxicity of the zein scaffold was graded as 0-1. Furthermore, PDLCs displayed full stretching and vigorous growth under scanning electronic microscope (SEM). Shuanghuangbu-scaffold extract could reinforce proliferation activity of PDLCs compared to the control group, especially at 100 microg x mL(-1) (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A zein scaffold with high porosity, open pore wall structure, and good biocompatibility is conducive to the growth of PDLCs. Zein could be used as scaffold to repair periodontal tissue defects. Also, Shuanghuangbu-scaffold extract can enhance the proliferation activity of PDLCs. Altogether, these findings provide the basis for in vivo testing on animals.
Department of Stomatology, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. xu_yanzhi@163.com
Xu
X
Yan-Zhi
Wu
W
Jing-Jing
Yan-Ping
YP
Chen
Jian
J
Liu
Na
N
Li
Feng-Ying
FY
Yang
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D000089042:Coptis chinensis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D029621:Polypodiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015028:Zein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D015028:Zein; C107393:Coptidis rhizoma extract