Improved osteogenic differentiation of the dental pulp stem cells on artificial extracellular matrix

Background and Objective: Co-cell polymers can be the best implants for replacing bone defects in patients. The dental pulp stem cells produced from the patient and the nanofibrous polymeric scaffold that can be completely degraded in the body and its produced monomers could be also usable are the best options for this implant.Materials and Methods: In this study, electrospun poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanofibers were fabricated and characterized and then osteogenic differentiation of the dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) was investigated while cultured on PHBV scaffold.Findings: MTT results showed that cultured DPSCs on PHBV proliferation were increased compared to those cultured on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) as the control. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium content were also significantly increased in DPSCs cultured on PHBV compared to the cultured on TCPS under osteogenic medium. Gene expression evaluation demonstrated that Runx2, collagen type I, ALP, osteonectin, and osteocalcin were upregulated in DPSCs cultured on PHBV scaffold in comparison with those cultured on TCPS for 2 weeks. Western blot analysis has shown that osteocalcin and osteopontin expression as two major osteogenic markers were increased in DPSCs cultured on PHBV scaffold.Conclusion: According to the results, nanofiber-based PHBV has a promising potential to increase osteogenic differentiation of the stem cells and DPSCs-PHBV as a cell-co-polymer construct demonstrated that has a great efficiency for use as a bone tissue engineered bioimplant.