Hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin composite biomimetic scaffold for dental pulp repair

Abstract

Dental pulp repair is a difficult clinical problem. In the present study, the authors aimed to mimic the extracellular matrix of dental pulp tissue structurally and compositionally. Nanofibrous silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds containing hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles were fabricated by using the freeze-drying approach. Rod-shaped HAp was successfully embedded in the composite scaffold, the diameter of which was about 100–200 nm as shown by transmission electron microscopy analysis. The three-dimensional microstructure of the composite scaffold prepared in various ratios of HAp to SF was observed by scanning electron microscopy and the pore size of the optimal scaffold was about 30–120 μm. Meanwhile, the hemocompatibility of the composite scaffolds was evaluated based on their impact on the clotting function by way of activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and thromboelastographic assays. The scaffolds possessed a low hemolysis rate of red blood cells. Furthermore, cell culture tests using dental pulp stem cells found that the scaffolds had good biocompatibility. There biomimetic HAp/SF composite scaffolds may serve as a promising biomaterial for dental pulp repair.

Polyacrylamide/Chitosan-Based Conductive Double Network Hydrogels with Outstanding Electrical and Mechanical Performance at Low Temperatures

“…For convenience, we normalized all the properties to their maxima. The PANI/CS-PAAm DN hydrogels displayed outstanding stretchability and conductivity compared to other low-temperature hydrogels (Figure d). ,,,,, Importantly, its GF at large deformation exceeds that of other hydrogels reported in the literature (Figure e). ,,− ,− …”

“…Hydrogels are composite materials composed of a large amount of water and three-dimensional (3D) polymer networks. Conductive hydrogels are a special type of hydrogels that can transform external stimuli into a variation of electrical signals by adding conductive materials (e.g., graphite materials and carbon nanotubes), free ions, , conducting polymers (e.g., polyaniline (PANI), , polypyrrole (PPy), , poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly­(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), , and polythiophene (PTh)) or liquid metals to the polymer network to achieve conductivity. Because of the intrinsic softness, deformability, biocompatibility, and unique electrical properties, the conductive hydrogels become the promising flexible sensors in the fields of biomimetic skin, human-machine interfaces, implantable medical devices, wearable electronics, and soft robots …”

Extraction of Silk Fibroin with Several Sericin Removal Processes and its Importance in Tissue Engineering: A Review

“…Hence, a significant therapeutic approach is needed to regenerate dental pulp not just to enhance the durability of the teeth but improvement the living conditions of the patient. The blended silk fibroin scaffold contributed to specific ECM conditions for the proliferation of cells in dental pulp tissue reformation [120]. Currently, two significant technologies exist in the experimental study of dental pulp engineering.…”

“…In addition with it united the thermodynamics characteristics and suitable hemo-compatibility for optimistic transplantation. According to the cell viability result, it has concluded that the complex scaffold of silk fibroin with HAp provided essential minerals support for the cell growth and proliferation of the dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) [120].…”

Calcium Phosphate-Based Bioceramics in the Treatment of Osteosarcoma: Drug Delivery Composites and Magnetic Hyperthermia Agents

“…Similar to other ceramic materials, HAp has some characteristics that limit its use in its pure form, including high hardness, low resistance to fractures, and fragility (55). To overcome these limitations, HAp-based composites and polymers such as gelatin, alginate, collagen, fibroin, chitosan, and cellulose are synthesized, aiming to produce biocompatible scaffolds presenting properties with those of natural biological tissues (56)(57)(58)(59)(60). Therefore, HAp biocompatible scaffolds can be used as anti-tumor drug delivery composites, carrying drugs such as doxorubicin.…”