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Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Development of a Direct Pulp-capping Model for the Evaluation of Pulpal Wound Healing and Reparative Dentin Formation in Mice
Published on: January 12, 2017
Human Digested Dentin Matrix for Dentin Regeneration and the Applicative Potential in Vital Pulp Therapy
Zheng Li1, Chengxiang Zheng1, Peiru Jiang1
16 Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Introduction:
Human dentin is a natural acellular matrix with excellent reported biocompatibility. The aim was to fabricate a novel dentin matrix material from human dentin and investigate its applicative potential for vital pulp therapy.
Methods:
Digested dentin matrix extract (DDME) was fabricated using controlled enzymatic digestion under acidic conditions. The surfaces and biocompatibility of DDME were then investigated, with its effects on the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) also studied. The ability of DDME to induce mineralization was assessed in a nude mouse model. The performance of DDME as a pulp capping agent was evaluated in an in situ rat model. The molecular mechanism was verified by mRNA sequencing.
Results:
A novel type of dentin matrix material with a uniform size of 8 μm was fabricated. DDME had a similar band compared with grinded dentin matrix, with a smaller size, and more uneven surface, as detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. DDME at low concentrations did not affect hDPC viability or proliferation, but enhanced runt-related transcription factor 2, dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1, and COL1A1 (collagen type I alpha 1 chain) expression in hDPCs in vitro. DDME was superior to HA-TCP (hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate) in dentin-like mineralized tissue formation after subcutaneous transplantation. In the rat model of pulpotomy, DDME showed visible curative effects. The underlying mechanism may be the inhibition of Hippo signaling following DDME treatment. DDME promoted Yes-associated protein (YAP) 1 nuclear influx, thereby enhancing the expression of DMP-1 (dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1), which was reversed by YAP inhibitor treatment.
Conclusions:
Human DDME can be used as a biomaterial for dentin regeneration. The combined application of DDME and current pulp capping agents is a potential choice for vital pulp therapy.
