Introduction: this study was conducted to investigate the osteogenic ability of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) derived exosomes (PDLSCs-Exos) and the effect of PDLSCs-Exos with hydrogel on alveolar bone defect repairment in the rat.
Methods: the PDLSCs were obtained through primary cell culture, and PDLSCs-Exos were purified by the ultracentrifugation method. The CCK-8 kit and ALP staining were used to explore the effect of PDLSCs-Exos on promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In vivo, the alveolar bone defect models were made mesial to the bilateral maxillary first molars of rats. MicroCT, HE staining, and Masson staining were used to analyze the new bone at the bone defect of rats.
Results: the periodontal ligament stem cells and the periodontal ligament stem cells derived exosomes were successfully extracted. The results of the CCK-8 kit and ALP staining showed PDLSCs-Exos significantly promoted the proliferation osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In vivo experiment results revealed that compared with the control group and the hydrogel group, the rats in the hydrogel with exosomes group showed more new bone formation in alveolar bone defects.
Conclusion: Periodontal ligament stem cells and exosomes derived from periodontal ligament stem cells were successfully extracted. The results demonstrated that the hydrogel successfully delivered periodontal ligament stem cells derived exosomes for repairing alveolar bone defects in rats in vivo at the initial stage.
Keywords: alveolar bone defect repair; bone regeneration; exosome; hydrogel; periodontal membrane stem cells.