An injectable bioceramics-containing composite hydrogel promoting innervation for pulp-dentin complex repair

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oral Medicine

Background:

• Dental pulp-dentin complex defects are a significant clinical challenge.
• Current therapies like root canal and vital pulp therapy fail to fully repair these defects.
• Existing biomaterials overlook the crucial role of nerve modulation in pulp regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an injectable composite hydrogel for functional pulp-dentin complex regeneration.
• To investigate the role of Li-Ca-Si (LCS) bioceramics in promoting neurogenesis and odontogenesis.
• To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of the hydrogel in promoting pulp repair and re-innervation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an injectable composite hydrogel using Li-Ca-Si (LCS) bioceramics and gelatin methacrylate.
• Photo-crosslinking of the hydrogel for injectable application.
• In vitro assessment of Schwann cell neurogenic differentiation and dental pulp stem cell odontogenic differentiation.
• In vivo evaluation of pulp-dentin complex repair and nerve fiber regeneration.

Main Results:

• The LCS-containing hydrogel sustained the release of bioactive Li, Ca, and Si ions.
• The hydrogel promoted neurogenic and odontogenic differentiation in vitro.
• In vivo studies demonstrated significant pulp-dentin complex repair and induced nerve fiber growth.
• Re-innervation of pulp tissues was observed following hydrogel implantation.

Conclusions:

• LCS bioceramics-containing composite hydrogel is a promising multifunctional material for pulp-dentin complex regeneration.
• The material effectively promotes both neurogenesis and odontogenesis, leading to functional tissue repair.
• This strategy offers a new approach for designing advanced filling materials for periodontal tissue regeneration by inducing innervation.