The aim of this study was to look at the potential of periodontal fibroblast spheroids to produce periodontal-like matrix on Bio-Gide and polyglycolic acid membrane.
Methods:
Human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLF 2630 ScienCellTM) were cultured in a standard monolayer technique up to passage 6. Trypsinized cells were grown into 3-dimensional spheroids using the liquid overlay technique. After 24 hours, the spheroids were transferred onto polyglycolic acid (PGA) and Bio-Gide (BG) membranes. Then they were cultured for 20 days. The culture medium was changed every 4 days. At 5 day intervals, membranes were fixed and processed for histological and immunohistochemical investigation against proteins that are known to be related to periodontal tissue.
Results:
Periodontal cells showed an ability to proliferate and migrate out of the spheroids on both membranes. However both activities were slightly slower on the PGA rather than the BG membrane. H&E showed the cells from spheroids spread laterally on both membranes. Only a few cells migrated vertically to the opposite surface. Immunostaining detected the presence of collagen type I and periostin on both membranes, although low intensity staining was seen on PGA. Osteocalcin was also detected at low level on BG membranes.
Conclusion:
Spheroids have the potential to be used as a cell delivery system together with a membrane during guided tissue regeneration. BG membrane seems to work better with spheroids than PGA, in terms of cell proliferation and matrix stimulation.