Development of a Photocurable Material for the Periodontal bone Defects

Objectives: In periodontal regeneration, it is ideal that fluidity of treatment materials should be controlled according to the treatment stage. The present study aimed at developing a novel photocurable material with optimally controlled fluidity.

Methods: The material comprised of mixed aqueous solutions of photoreactive gelatin (eosin-gelatin;20-40%) - gelatin partially derivatized with eosin - and polyamine (5 wt%), which is a polymer of N,N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide was synthesized. Photogelation ability, and the physical and biological properties of the material were evaluated.

Results: The material before photoirradiation showed appropriate viscosity for shape formation at 37 °C. When irradiated with a clinically used visible light source (80-W halogen lamp ),the solutions were converted to hydrogels that can be shaped into a desired form within 40 seconds. At an eosin-gelatin concentration of above 20%, the gels produced by photoirradiation had adequate strength to retain their shape, and expected to secure enough space. Mouse vascular endothelial cells (ECs) that were seeded on the eosin-gelatin-coated surface showed good proliferation, similar to those seeded on commercial tissue culture dishes. Negligible cytotoxicity of eosin-gelatin was confirmed when cultured with large amount. A scanning electron microscopy revealed that the pore size was ranged from 3 to 10 um depending on the molecular weight of eosin-gelatins.

Conclusions: Although the developed material is currently a prototype, the material possesses the basic physical and biological properties required for clinical use, and has great potential to be applied in the periodontal regenerative therapy.