Osteogenic potential of human dental pulp stem cells cultured onto poly-ε-caprolactone/poly (rotaxane) scaffolds

Bioengineering aims to develop innovative scaffolds to improve cellular activities for tissue regeneration. To evaluate the biological behavior of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) seeded onto an experimental polymeric-based scaffold comprising poly-ε-caprolactone/poly (rotaxane). Adhesion, viability, and proliferation as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralized nodule formation (alizarin red assay), and expression of genes related to osteogenic differentiation, including ALP, type 1 collagen alpha 1 (COL1A1), Runt-related transcription factor (Runx-2), and osteocalcin (BGLAP/OCN), were evaluated in hDPSCs seeded onto polymeric scaffolds. hDPSCs expressed typical levels of mesenchymal stem cell surface markers. Cell growth increased upon cultivation on polymeric blend scaffold and the cells gained osteoblast-like appearance. Fourteen days after seeding hDPSCs on the scaffolds, irrespective to the culture medium used (clonogenic or mineralization medium), the cells presented ALP activity higher than that of control cells grown in clonogenic medium. The cells cultivated in mineralization medium on the scaffold showed significantly higher expression of all genes than the control cells, except for BGLAP gene expression. At 21 days, the group cultivated on the scaffold and mineralization medium showed maximum level of mineralization. Poly-ε-caprolactone/poly (rotaxane) blend is noncytotoxic to hDPSCs and improved genomic and functional osteogenic differentiation. Thus, poly-ε-caprolactone/poly (rotaxane) blend may serve as a promising bioactive biomaterial for bone tissue bioengineering351217401749To Renato Contessotto (Technologic Characterization Laboratory – Polytechnique Engineering School – USP – SP). To the Basic Research Laboratory of the Department of Dentistry of the School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo (FOUSP). To Assistant Professor Carla Sipert (qPCR – assistance), to Full Professor Fabio Daumas Nunes (Stem cells Laboratory – LABTRON – FOUSP). To Prof. Chang Tien Kiang (IPEN) for technical support in polymer blend scienc