IADR Abstract Archives
A Collagen Scaffold Encapsulating Complement C5a Enhances Pulp Cell Colonization
Objectives: In vital pulp therapy, a pulp capping material is used to replace the underlying destroyed tissue. The subsequent tertiary dentin production occurs at the expense of the pulp volume. An innovative scaffold made of collagen sponges loaded with microspheres containing Complement C5a, have been developed to induce the dentin-pulp regeneration without pulp volume loss. This work was designed to investigate C5a release from the collagen sponges and its effects on human pulp cell proliferation and sponge colonization.
Methods: Collagen sponges loaded with Complement C5a encapsulated into microspheres were incubated in MEM medium and C5a release over 52 days was quantified by ELISA. Human pulp cells, prepared from extracted third molars, were incubated with the collagen sponges to evaluate its biocompatibility and cell proliferation using the MTT test. A 3D printed device was specifically developed and adapted to investigate the sponge colonization with pulp cells. The sponge (6mm high and 3 mm Ø) was maintained in a vertical position over the cell monolayer. After culture for 14 days the sponge colonization was evaluated with DAPI staining of the cell nuclei.
Results: C5a was gradually released from the collagen sponges until day 52. The sponges didn’t have any toxicity and significantly increased pulp cell proliferation. After 14 days of culture of the sponges in the home-made device, the cell nuclei were observed in the sponges containing C5a at different heights, but no colonization was observed with the controls (without C5a).
Conclusions: This work demonstrates that the collagen sponges containing C5a induced pulp cell proliferation. These sponges were colonized with pulp cells at different heights. This suggests that the newly developed material with the encapsulated C5a may be promising for recruiting pulp cells in future dentin and pulp regeneration studies aiming at avoiding pulp volume loss.
Methods: Collagen sponges loaded with Complement C5a encapsulated into microspheres were incubated in MEM medium and C5a release over 52 days was quantified by ELISA. Human pulp cells, prepared from extracted third molars, were incubated with the collagen sponges to evaluate its biocompatibility and cell proliferation using the MTT test. A 3D printed device was specifically developed and adapted to investigate the sponge colonization with pulp cells. The sponge (6mm high and 3 mm Ø) was maintained in a vertical position over the cell monolayer. After culture for 14 days the sponge colonization was evaluated with DAPI staining of the cell nuclei.
Results: C5a was gradually released from the collagen sponges until day 52. The sponges didn’t have any toxicity and significantly increased pulp cell proliferation. After 14 days of culture of the sponges in the home-made device, the cell nuclei were observed in the sponges containing C5a at different heights, but no colonization was observed with the controls (without C5a).
Conclusions: This work demonstrates that the collagen sponges containing C5a induced pulp cell proliferation. These sponges were colonized with pulp cells at different heights. This suggests that the newly developed material with the encapsulated C5a may be promising for recruiting pulp cells in future dentin and pulp regeneration studies aiming at avoiding pulp volume loss.