title: Odontogenic differentiation potential of human dental pulp cells cultured on a calcium-aluminate enriched chitosan-collagen scaffold.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to evaluate the odontogenic potential of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) in contact with an experimental porous chitosan-collagen scaffold (CHC) enriched or not with a mineral phase of calcium-aluminate (CHC-CA).
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the chemotactic effect of the materials, we placed HDPCs seeded on transwell membranes in intimate contact with the CHC or CHC-CA surface, and the cell migration was monitored for 48 h. Additionally, cells were seeded onto the material surface, and the viability and proliferation were evaluated at several time points. To assess the odontoblastic differentiation, we evaluated ALP activity, DSPP/DMP-1 gene expression, and mineralized matrix deposition. HDPCs cultured onto a polystyrene surface (monolayer) were used as negative control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental CHC-CA scaffold induced intense migration of HDPCs through transwell membranes, with cells attaching to and spreading on the material surface after 24-h incubation. Also, the HDPCs seeded onto the CHC-CA scaffold were capable of migrating inside it, remaining viable and featuring a proliferative rate more rapid than that of CHC and control groups at 7 and 14 days of cell culture. At long-term culture, cells in the CHC-CA scaffold featured the highest deposition of mineralized matrix and expression of odontoblastic markers (ALP activity and DSPP/DMP-1 gene expression).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results, the CHC-CA scaffold is a bioactive and cytocompatible material capable of increasing the odontogenic potential of human pulp cells. Based on analysis of the positive data obtained in this study, one can suggest that the CHC-CA scaffold is an interesting future candidate for the treatment of exposed pulps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental scaffold composed by a chitosan-collagen matrix mineralized with calcium aluminate seems to be an interesting candidate for in vivo application as a cell-free approach to dentin tissue engineering, which may open a new perspective for the treatment of exposed pulp tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathology, Araraquara School of Dentistry, University Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Humaitá Street, 1680, Araraquara, SP, 14801-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diana Gabriela
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, São Paulo University - USP, Avenida do Café, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hebert Luís
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Rosseto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Araraquara School of Dentistry, University Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Humaitá Street, 1680, Araraquara, SP, 14801-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Salles
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Scheffel
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathology, Araraquara School of Dentistry, University Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Humaitá Street, 1680, Araraquara, SP, 14801-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Gonçalves
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Araraquara School of Dentistry, University Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Humaitá Street, 1680, Araraquara, SP, 14801-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huck
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Araraquara School of Dentistry, University Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Humaitá Street, 1680, Araraquara, SP, 14801-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josimeri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hebling
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathology, Araraquara School of Dentistry, University Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Humaitá Street, 1680, Araraquara, SP, 14801-903, Brazil. casouzac@foar.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Souza Costa
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002633:Chemotaxis; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017610:Calcium Compounds; C035219:calcium aluminate; D003094:Collagen; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Endodontics; Extracellular matrix; Regenerative medicine; Stem cells; Tissue engineering