title: Enhanced healing of surgical periodontal defects in rats following application of a self-assembling peptide nanofibre hydrogel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a self-assembling peptide (SAP) nanofibre hydrogel on healing of surgical periodontal defects in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro interactions between rat periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and SAP hydrogel (2.5% RADA16) were assessed by cell proliferation assays. In vivo, maxillary first molars of 45 Wistar rats were extracted and after healing, bilateral periodontal defects were surgically created mesially in second molars. Defects were treated with RADA16, Matrigel, or left unfilled. After 2 and 4 weeks, defect healing was evaluated by microcomputed tomography, histological and immunohistochemical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periodontal ligament cells grown on RADA16 showed an gradual increase in proliferation up to 72 h. At 4 weeks post surgery, the bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness of defect areas in the RADA16 group were significantly greater than those in other groups. Histologically, enhanced new bone formation was observed in the RADA16 group. At 4 weeks, PDL-like collagen bundles ran oblique to the root surface in the RADA16 group. Expression levels of PCNA-positive cells, vascular endothelial growth factor and osteopontin in the RADA16 group were significantly greater than those in other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of the study, application of the SAP hydrogel promoted healing of surgical periodontal defects by enhancing cell recruitment and possibly angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bizenjima
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.|Oral Health Science Center, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.|Oral Health Science Center, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D057139:Nanofibers; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010455:Peptides; D010513:Periodontal Ligament; D010519:Periodontium; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012038:Regeneration; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014945:Wound Healing; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
keywords: bone formation; osteopontin; periodontal disease; periodontal ligament; regeneration; scaffold; self-assembling peptide; vascular endothelial growth factor