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Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Accessing the Cytotoxicity and Cell Response to Biomaterials
Published on: July 8, 2021
LAMA5-inspired adhesive dodecapeptide facilitates efficient dentine regeneration: An in vitro and in vivo study
Jia Tang1, Haicheng Wang1, Di Wu1
1School and Hospital of Stomatology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Aim:
The primary goal of this study was to investigate the potential effects of A5G81 in inducing reparative dentine (RD) formation both in vitro and in vivo.
Methodology:
Cell adhesion was observed by crystal violet staining and quantified by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) extraction. Cell proliferation was investigated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Spreading of cytoskeleton was visualized using immunofluorescence staining. Protein expression level of Akt signalling pathway was compared in a human Akt pathway phosphorylation array. Genes that were up or downregulated by A5G81 were identified by RNA sequencing. The mRNA expression of odontoblastic markers was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Moreover, mineralization of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) was visualized by alizarin red staining and quantified using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). A direct pulp-capping model was established in SD rats and the RD formation at 2 weeks after operation was observed using HE staining.
Results:
A5G81 (optimal coating concentration: 0.5 mg/mL) promoted hDPCs adhesion and proliferation to a level that was similar to Type I collagen (COL-1). Meanwhile, A5G81 activated Akt signalling pathway, albeit to a lesser extent than COL-1. An inhibition test indicated that A5G81 induced hDPCs adhesion by activating PI3K pathway. A5G81 induced the expression of ECM remodelling genes and odontoblastic genes, which were demonstrated by RNA-seq and qPCR, respectively. In addition, A5G81 efficiently accelerated the mineralization of hDPCs in both immobilized and soluble forms, a property that makes it more applicable in dental clinic. Finally, the pulp-capping study in rats suggested that use of A5G81 could successfully induce the formation of RD within 2 weeks.
Conclusion:
Coating of A5G81 to non-tissue culture-treated polystyrene facilitates spreading, proliferation and differentiation of hDPCs, resulting in rapid RD formation in artificially exposed pulp.

