title: Scaffolds for dental pulp tissue engineering.
abstract: For tissue engineering strategies, the choice of an appropriate scaffold is the first and certainly a crucial step. A vast variety of biomaterials is available: natural or synthetic polymers, extracellular matrix, self-assembling systems, hydrogels, or bioceramics. Each material offers a unique chemistry, composition and structure, degradation profile, and possibility for modification. The role of the scaffold has changed from passive carrier toward a bioactive matrix, which can induce a desired cellular behavior. Tailor-made materials for specific applications can be created. Recent approaches to generate dental pulp rely on established materials, such as collagen, polyester, chitosan, or hydroxyapatite. Results after transplantation show soft connective tissue formation and newly generated dentin. For dentin-pulp-complex engineering, aspects including vascularization, cell-matrix interactions, growth-factor incorporation, matrix degradation, mineralization, and contamination control should be considered. Self-assembling peptide hydrogels are an example of a smart material that can be modified to create customized matrices. Rational design of the peptide sequence allows for control of material stiffness, induction of mineral nucleation, or introduction of antibacterial activity. Cellular responses can be evoked by the incorporation of cell adhesion motifs, enzyme-cleavable sites, and suitable growth factors. The combination of inductive scaffold materials with stem cells might optimize the approaches for dentin-pulp complex regeneration.
authors.affiliation: University of Regensburg, Department of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Germany. kerstin.galler@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Galler
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hartgerink
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmalz
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003810:Dentinogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins