A Dual-Network Thermosensitive Tricalcium Silicate-Based Pulp Capping Agent Based on Sodium Alginate and Modified...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials Science
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Current direct pulp capping (DPC) materials have limitations including uncontrollable degradation, long setting times, and low compressive strength, leading to suboptimal clinical outcomes.
• There is a need for advanced DPC materials that enhance the effectiveness of vital pulp therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a multifunctional composite material for all-dimensional vital pulp therapy.
• To improve mechanical properties, optimize setting time, and assess biological and antibacterial efficacy of the novel DPC material.

Main Methods:

• An organic-inorganic hybrid approach was used to synthesize a composite material comprising tricalcium silicate, oxidized sodium alginate, and chitosan grafted with glutamic acid (CSGOC-GP).
• Material characterization included 1H NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and XRD.
• Mechanical properties (compressive strength, setting time), in vitro cell studies with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs), antibacterial assays against oral bacteria, and in vivo biocompatibility assessments were performed.

Main Results:

• The developed CSGOC-GP composite exhibited a compressive strength of 37.0 MPa and an optimized setting time of 13.4 minutes.
• In vitro studies demonstrated that CSGOC-GP promoted hDPSC proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation.
• The material showed high efficacy in inhibiting Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, significantly reducing mature S. mutans biofilm.
• In vivo studies confirmed the material's biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The novel CSGOC-GP composite, fabricated via an organic-inorganic hybrid strategy, presents significantly improved mechanical properties and an optimized setting time.
• The material demonstrates excellent biocompatibility, promotes dental pulp stem cell activity, and possesses potent antibacterial properties against key oral pathogens.
• This multifunctional DPC material represents a promising advancement for vital pulp therapy, addressing current clinical limitations.