Exosome-loaded human amniotic membrane hydrogel modulates regenerative responses of human dental pulp stem cells
Hesti Witasari Jos Erry1,2, Anggraini Margono3, Dini Asrianti Bagio3
1Doctoral Study Program, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Context:
Human dental pulp stem cell (hDPSC)-derived exosomes may support dentin-pulp regeneration, but free exosomes have limited local retention. Human amniotic membrane hydrogel may serve as a scaffold for exosome delivery.
Aim:
This study evaluated the effect of exosome-loaded human amniotic membrane (hAM-Exo) hydrogel on hDPSC responses compared with free exosomes under basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated conditions.
Materials And Methods:
hDPSCs were treated with free exosomes or hAM-Exo at 0.5%, 1%, and 5%, with or without LPS. Viability, cytocompatibility, migration, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) secretion, and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) expression were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, live/dead, scratch, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and post hoc tests.
Results:
hAM-Exo was cytocompatible in all groups and showed a more stable metabolic profile than free exosomes at 96 h. hAM-Exo 1% significantly increased VEGF-A secretion under basal conditions at 48 h. Under LPS stimulation, hAM-Exo better preserved VEGF-A secretion than free exosomes, while hAM-Exo at all concentrations significantly enhanced DSPP expression on days 7 and 14.
Conclusions:
hAM-Exo modulated regenerative-related hDPSC responses under basal and inflammatory conditions compared with free exosomes, supporting scaffold-assisted exosome delivery for cell-free regenerative endodontics.
