Periodontal ligament‐like tissue regeneration with drilled porous decalcified dentin matrix sheet composite

Objective In this study, we constructed a composite by combining the human dental follicle cell sheet and a manual drilled porous decalcified dentin matrix that was used to construct ectopic tissue‐engineered periodontal ligament‐like tissues in renal capsules of nude mice. Materials and methods Human dental follicle cells were harvested from human lower third molars and then embedded into a temperature‐sensitive culture dish. These cells were then placed into frozen porous decalcified dentin matrix sheets and induced by 50 g/ml ascorbic acid. This established a “sandwich structure” in vitro implant that was placed in nude mice under the renal capsule. The mice were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks after implantation, and the implants were assessed after haematoxylin–eosin staining, Masson staining and immunohistochemical staining. Results The experimental group showed a fibre structure between the dentin and HA ‐ TCP after 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, the collagen fibres increased, and the direction was perpendicular to the dentin. Immunohistochemistry showed positive staining in the osteopontin and periostin. Conclusion The composite can induce ectopic bone and fibre formation, and the fibre had a certain directionality. Besides, the composite can maintain the stability of the periodontal ligament width.