Decellularized pulp matrix as scaffold for mesenchymal stem cell mediated bone regeneration

Dong Joon Lee; Patricia Miguez; Jane Kwon; Renie Daniel; Ricardo Padilla; Samuel Min; Rahim Zalal; Ching-Chang Ko; Hae Won Shin

doi:10.1177/2041731420981672

Decellularized pulp matrix as scaffold for mesenchymal stem cell mediated bone regeneration

J Tissue Eng. 2020 Dec 17:11:2041731420981672. doi: 10.1177/2041731420981672. eCollection 2020 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Dong Joon Lee¹, Patricia Miguez^{1

2}, Jane Kwon^{1

3}, Renie Daniel⁴, Ricardo Padilla⁵, Samuel Min¹, Rahim Zalal¹, Ching-Chang Ko⁶, Hae Won Shin³

Affiliations

¹ Oral and Craniofacial Health Science Institute, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
² Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
³ Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁵ Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁶ Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Abstract

Scaffolds that are used for bone repair should provide an adequate environment for biomineralization by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Recently, decellularized pulp matrices (DPM) have been utilized in endodontics for their high regenerative potential. Inspired by the dystrophic calcification on the pulp matrix known as pulp stone, we developed acellular pulp bioscaffolds and examined their potential in facilitating MSCs mineralization for bone defect repair. Pulp was decellularized, then retention of its structural integrity was confirmed by histological, mechanical, and biochemical evaluations. MSCs were seeded and proliferation, osteogenic gene expression, and biomineralization were assessed to verify DPM's osteogenic effects in vitro. MicroCT, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and histological analyses were used to confirm that DPM seeded with MSCs result in greater mineralization on rat critical-sized defects than that without MSCs. Overall, our study proves DPM's potential to serve as a scaffolding material for MSC-mediated bone regeneration for future craniofacial bone tissue engineering.

Keywords: Decellularized pulp matrix; biomineralization; critical sized defect; dystrophic calcification; mesenchymal stem cells.