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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
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Generation and Grafting of Tissue-engineered Vessels in a Mouse Model
Published on: March 18, 2015
Dual-engineered extracellular vesicles enabling endothelial targeting and EphrinB2 delivery for pulp
Anqi Liu1,2, Mengying Li1, Peiyu Tang1
1School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Dual-engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying EphrinB2 and an endothelial-targeting aptamer promote pulp revascularization. This novel approach enhances vascularization in root canal niches, offering a promising strategy for dental pulp regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Endothelial Cell Biology
Background:
- Dental pulp pathologies significantly impact patient quality of life and overall health.
- Regenerating dental pulp tissue faces challenges, particularly in achieving effective revascularization.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer potential as therapeutic delivery systems for tissue regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop dual-engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) for enhanced dental pulp revascularization.
- To incorporate EphrinB2 as a pro-regenerative payload and Apt02 for endothelial-targeting specificity.
- To evaluate the efficacy of these engineered EVs in promoting angiogenesis and pulp regeneration in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- Optimized the concentration of EphrinB2-loaded EVs (B2-EVs) for maximum pro-angiogenic effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
- Engineered dual-functional EVs (Apt-B2-EVs) by integrating Apt02 for enhanced endothelial cell targeting and EphrinB2 delivery.
- Encapsulated Apt-B2-EVs within methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogels for sustained release and evaluated their performance in root canals and subsequent ectopic transplantation in mice.
Main Results:
- Optimized B2-EV concentration (1 µg/mL) significantly improved HUVEC proliferation, migration, and capillary morphogenesis.
- Apt-B2-EVs exhibited superior HUVEC affinity and amplified pro-angiogenic capacity, activating the EphrinB2/EphB4-dependent Akt/ERK signaling pathway.
- Apt-B2-EVs@GelMA hydrogels demonstrated sustained release, biocompatibility, and successfully promoted vascularization of pulp organoids upon transplantation.
Conclusions:
- Dual-engineered Apt-B2-EVs effectively recruit endothelial cells and deliver EphrinB2, facilitating functional pulp revascularization.
- The Apt-B2-EVs@GelMA system provides a robust platform for regenerative endodontics.
- This strategy lays the groundwork for developing next-generation therapies for functional dental pulp regeneration.
