Osteoblast Survival Within in Vitro Scaffolds for Endodontic Bone Regeneration

Objective. This study was conducted to measure and compare the survival of osteoblasts on three types of rigid scaffolds (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ); polymer, collagen, and calcium phosphate and four types of injectable bone augmentation scaffolds (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Oklahoma City, OK); DBX, MTF, D-700, N-300, and a root repair material; Diaroot (Diadent Burnaby, BC, Canada). Background. To accomplish bone regeneration as part of regenerative endodontic therapy, osteoblasts may be delivered into bone defects using delivery scaffolds. Methods. A total of 80 tissue constructs were created by seeding the scaffolds with 106 osteoblast cells with the aid of a sterile micro-syringe. The osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) were supplied by ATCC, Manassas, VA. All the specimens were maintained in cell culture, at 37oC in a 5% CO2 atmosphere for 7 and 14 days. Neutral red dye (0.0016%) was added to the culture media to stain metabolically active cells. The cell survival within the constructs was measured using histologic criteria. The data was analyzed using analysis of variance (P value) statistics. Results. Osteoblast survival within the scaffolds was from the most to least optimal; collagen, polymer, calcium phosphate, N-300, Diaroot, D-700, MTF, and DBX (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Rigid scaffolds are preferable to maintain the survival of osteoblasts and could be used to deliver them into bone defects to accomplish regeneration. Grants. This study was funded by a grant from NSU Health Professions Division.