Odontogenic potential of nanofiber scaffolds incorporated with different mineral phases on human pulp cells

Abstract

Treatment of pulp exposure in permanent teeth is still a challenge for clinicians due to available materials limitations, which often imply failure. Advances in bioengineering have permitted the reformulation of therapies that guide tissue repair from specific stimuli on cells present in damaged tissue. Among the strategies, nanofibrous scaffolds have highlighted the regeneration of craniofacial tissues, especially when associated with bioactive ions, such as calcium and phosphate, capable of stimulating hard tissue neoformation. However, the odontogenic potential of pulp cells promoted by scaffolds associated with different ions-release particles requires further investigation. This study aims to evaluate the incorporation of calcium hydroxide (CH; 0,5% w/v), nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA; 0,5% w/v) or ²-glycerophosphate (BGP; 0,5% w/v) into polycaprolactone (PCL; 10% w/v) nanofibers for dentin repair and dentin-pulp complex regeneration. Initially, biomaterials will be synthesized by means of electrospinning technique and morphologically and chemically characterized (SEM/EDS). Additionally, human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) will be cultured with the materials in order to evaluate cell viability (alamarBlue and Live/Dead), cell adhesion/spreading (F-actin) and mineralized nodule deposition (Alizarin Red S). The number of replicates (n) will vary according to experimental protocols. Data will be submitted to specific statistical analyses after the determination of sampling distribution and homogeneity of variances at the 5% significance level. (AU)