Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Cells on Polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite Scaffold

Objectives: To evaluate the potential of polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HAp) scaffold for enhancing dental pulp cells differentiation. Methods: Three dimensional scaffold of PCL/HAp was fabricated using a solvent casting and particulate leaching fabrication technique. Dental pulp (DP) cells were seeded on the scaffold and cultured in the presence of ascorbic acid and organic phosphate up to 3 weeks, compared with the control culture. The expression of dentin matrix protein (DMP)-1 and osteocalcin (OC) were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western analysis. Alizarin red S staining was performed to evaluate the calcium deposition. Scaffolds containing DP cells were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice and the amount of bone formation was determined by histomorphometric analysis. Results: Increase of DMP-1 and OC expressed by DP cells on the scaffold was observed as early as 3 days when compared with the control culture. The staining of calcium precipitation was more profound in DP cells on the scaffold than that of the control at day 21. Bone formation was observed at the site of DP cells-transplanted scaffold. Conclusion: Using DP cells as a source of osteogenic cells in combination with PCL/HAp scaffold could be an interesting choice for bone tissue engineering.