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Updated: May 4, 2026
Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold
Published on: October 23, 2015
Functionalized BMP-2-loaded microspheres combined with a PCL biomimetic scaffold for guiding root development in
Zhenyu Yang1, Mengyao Yang1, Jiaxue Ye1
1Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
Objectives:
Pulp necrosis in immature permanent teeth arrests root development and compromises long-term prognosis. This study aimed to develop a multifunctional scaffold integrating structural biomimicry, mechanical matching, and sustained growth factor release for orderly root regeneration.
Materials And Methods:
A poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) conical scaffold was fabricated via melt electrowriting (MEW) combined with mechanical winding. Bone morphogenetic protein‑2 (BMP‑2)-loaded microspheres were prepared and physically incorporated into the scaffold. The scaffold surface was modified with collagen. Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) were cultured on the scaffold to evaluate proliferation, adhesion, and osteogenic differentiation.
Results:
The scaffold exhibited a trilayer "collagen-microsphere-PCL" architecture with mechanical compatibility (elastic modulus: 22.5 MPa; fracture strength: 5.29 MPa; elongation: 441.59%). Microspheres (2.86 ± 0.45 μm) showed a gradient distribution and sustained release (70-75% over 90 days). In vitro, the scaffold promoted hDPSC adhesion and proliferation and significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation with elevated alkaline phosphatase activity, upregulated the expression of osteogenic-related genes, and increased protein levels.
Conclusions:
The scaffold integrates structural support, controlled growth factor delivery, and a bioactive interface, offering a promising strategy for root development in immature permanent teeth.
Clinical Relevance:
By enabling physiological root development, the scaffold addresses a critical unmet need, offering a viable alternative to conventional root canal therapy.
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