title: The effect of scaffold architecture on odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells.
abstract: Previous studies have shown the superiority of nanofibrous (NF) poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds in supporting the osteogenic differentiation of a few cell types and bone regeneration. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether NF-PLLA scaffolds are advantageous for the odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) over solid-walled (SW) PLLA scaffolds. The in vitro studies demonstrated that, compared with SW scaffolds, NF scaffolds enhanced attachment and proliferation as well as odontogenic differentiation of human DPSCs. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the expression of odontogenic genes of human DPSCs were increased on NF scaffolds compared with that on SW scaffolds. In addition, more mineral deposition was observed on the NF scaffolds, as demonstrated by von Kossa staining, calcium content measurement and scanning electron microscopy. Consistent with the in vitro studies, NF scaffolds promoted odontogenic differentiation and hard tissue formation compared with SW scaffolds after 8 weeks of ectopic transplantation in nude mice, as confirmed by von Kossa staining, Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemical staining for dentin sialoprotein. In conclusion, NF-PLLA scaffolds enhanced the odontogenic differentiation of human DPSCs and mineralization both in vitro and in vivo, and are promising scaffolds for dentin regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Haiyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Longxing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Peter X
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium