The Effectiveness of Growth Factors to Create Dental Pulp Constructs

Objective. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of six growth factors to create tissue-engineered dental pulp constructs. Background. Dental pulp constructs are a potential future endodontic treatment to revitalize teeth. Methods. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) were grown to confluence and seeded on 3-dimensional open-cell D,D-L,L-polylactic acid (polymer) tissue engineering scaffolds. The growth factors were: 10 ml/ml of Collagen-1, Collagen-IV, Vitronectin, Fibronectin, Laminin and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P). All the scaffolds and growth factors were supplied by BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ. The pulp constructs were submerged in culture media and maintained at 37 oC in a 5% CO2 atmosphere for 7 days and 14 days. Neutral red dye (0.0016%) was added to the culture media to stain metabolically active cells. The specimens were fixed in formalin, dehydrated and processed for light microscope histology. A histological analysis of SHED survival within the samples was conducted at x200 magnification. Data was analyzed by ANOVA statistical tests (P values) at a significance of 95%. Results. SHED survival was from the most to least optimal in the pulp constructs coated with; Fibronectin, Collagen-IV, S1P, Collagen-1, Vitronectin, Laminin, and the absence of growth factor (P < 0.05). Conclusion. These in vitro results suggest that coating scaffolds with Fibronectin, Collagen-IV, and S1P are beneficial to create tissue-engineered dental pulp constructs. Grants. This study was funded by grants from the AAE Foundation and NSU Health Professions Division