The use of dentin matrix scaffold and dental follicle cells for dentin regeneration

Scaffold and inductive microenvironment are the two most important factors for dentin regeneration. They have been addressed with hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, polyglycolic acid, calcined bovine bone, and collagen, among other things. However, as of yet, no scaffold and inductive microenvironment combination has been shown to contribute to the regeneration of complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin tissues that include dentin, predentin and odontoblasts. To test the supporting and inductive effects of treated dentin matrix (TDM) on complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin regeneration, dental follicle cells (DFCs) were seeded onto TDM and further incubated for 1 and 2 weeks in vitro and for 2 and 4 weeks in vivo. The results show that in vitro, in addition to dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) (regarded as identifying markers of odontoblasts), DFCs induced by TDM expressed osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein, type I collagen, osteopontin, osteonectin and alkaline phosphatase (all expressed by odontoblasts), and that complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin was successfully regenerated. Most importantly, it was found that in vivo TDM supports and induces regeneration of complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin, and regenerated dentin expresses DSP and DMP1, which are identifying dentin markers. Taken together, these results suggest that, for dentin regeneration, TDM is a suitable scaffold and inductive microenvironment and DFCs are a suitable cell type. The combination of TDM and DFCs may constitute a promising approach for future clinical dentin regeneration.