Role of synthetic extracellular matrix in development of engineered dental pulp
In cases of damaged oral tissues, traditional therapies, such as a root canal, replace the injured tissue with a synthetic material. However, while the materials currently used can offer structural replacement of the lost tissue, they are incapable of completely replacing the function
of the original tissue, and often fail over time. This report describes a tissue engineering approach to dental pulp tissue replacement utilizing cultured cells seeded upon synthetic extracellular matrices. Human pulp fibroblasts were obtained and multiplied in culture. These cells were then
seeded onto three different synthetic matrices: scaffolds fabricated from polyglycolic acid (PGA) fibers, a type I collagen hydrogel, and alginate in an effort to examine which matrix is most suitable for dental pulp tissue formation. In addition, methods previously developed for seeding and
culturing pulp cells on PGA were optimized. Culturing cells on PGA resulted in a very high cell density tissue with significant collagen deposition. No cell proliferation was observed on alginate, and the growth of cells in collagen gels after 45 days was only moderate. These studies indicate
dental pulp-like tissues can be engineered, and this may provide the first step to engineering a complete tooth.
Keywords: Polyglycolic acid; biodegradable polymer; dentistry; teeth
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA 2: Department of Cardiology, General Dentistry and Endodontics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA 3: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA, Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48709, USA
Publication date: 01 January 1998
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