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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Accessing the Cytotoxicity and Cell Response to Biomaterials
Published on: July 8, 2021
Angiogenic activity of dentin matrix components
Rong Zhang1, Paul R Cooper, Gay Smith
1Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Unlabelled:
Angiogenesis is key to both the development and regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex.
Objective:
We hypothesized that proangiogenic signaling molecules sequestered in dentin matrix can be solubilised to induce angiogenic events.
Methods:
Matrix components were extracted from powdered sound human dentin with EDTA and their dose-dependent (0.0001-5 mg/mL) effects examined in endothelial cells in an in vitro angiogenic tube formation assay, proliferation assay, and transcriptional regulation of the VEGF and VEGF-R2 genes.
Results:
Lower concentrations of dentin matrix components were found to show proangiogenic activity, whereas higher concentrations suppressed angiogenic activity.
Conclusion:
This study highlights that the release of dentin matrix components after dental injury can contribute to the angiogenic events that support pulp regeneration.
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