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Tissue Engineering: Construction of a Multicellular 3D Scaffold for the Delivery of Layered Cell Sheets
Published on: October 3, 2014
Cementum-periodontal ligament complex regeneration using the cell sheet technique
M Gomez Flores1, M Hasegawa, M Yamato
1Section of Periodontology, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. mara@rios.tv
Journal of Periodontal Research
|January 22, 2008
Summary
This study shows that a multilayered human periodontal ligament cell sheet can regenerate the periodontal ligament-cementum complex. This technique offers a novel strategy for periodontal regeneration in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Periodontal diseases can lead to the destruction of the periodontal ligament and cementum.
- Reconstructing the periodontal ligament-cementum complex is crucial for restoring tooth function.
- Current regeneration methods have limitations in fully restoring complex architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of a multilayered human periodontal ligament cell sheet to reconstruct the periodontal ligament-cementum complex.
- To assess the viability and differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells in a novel culture system.
- To investigate the regenerative capacity of cell sheets after transplantation in an animal model.
Main Methods:
- Human periodontal ligament cells were cultured on temperature-responsive polymer-coated dishes to form cell sheets.
- Cells were cultured in osteodifferentiation medium supplemented with dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and beta-glycerophosphate.
- Multilayered cell sheets were transplanted onto dentin blocks and engrafted subcutaneously into immunodeficient rats for up to 6 weeks.
Main Results:
- Human periodontal ligament cells cultured in osteodifferentiation medium exhibited mineral nodule formation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and type I collagen expression.
- Transplanted cell sheets facilitated the formation of new cementum-like tissue and a perpendicularly oriented periodontal ligament on dentin surfaces.
- Control group cells showed minimal alkaline phosphatase activity and no cementum-like tissue formation.
Conclusions:
- A multilayered, temperature-responsive culture system effectively supports the development of human periodontal ligament cells towards cementum and ligament regeneration.
- The human periodontal ligament cell sheet technique presents a promising strategy for clinical periodontal regeneration.
- This approach may enable the reconstruction of the physiological architecture of the periodontal ligament-cementum complex.

