Pluronic F-127 hydrogel as a promising scaffold for encapsulation of dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide an advantageous therapeutic option for tissue engineering due to their high accessibility and bioavailability. However, delivering MSCs to defect sites while maintaining a high MSC survival rate is still a critical challenge in MSC-mediated tissue regeneration. Here, we tested the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in a thermoreversible Pluronic F127 hydrogel scaffold encapsulation system in vitro. DPSCs were encapsulated in Pluronic® F-127 hydrogel and stem cell viability, proliferation and differentiation into adipogenic and osteogenic tissues were evaluated. The degradation profile and swelling kinetics of the hydrogel were also analyzed. Our results confirmed that Pluronic F-127 is a promising and non-toxic scaffold for encapsulation of DPSCs as well as control human bone marrow MSCs (hBMMSCs), yielding high stem cell viability and proliferation. Moreover, after 2 weeks of differentiation in vitro, DPSCs as well as hBMMSCs exhibited high levels of mRNA expression for osteogenic and adipogenic gene markers via PCR analysis. Our histochemical staining further confirmed the ability of Pluronic F-127 to direct the differentiation of these stem cells into osteogenic and adipogenic tissues. Furthermore, our results revealed that Pluronic F-127 has a dense tubular and reticular network morphology, which contributes to its high permeability and solubility, consistent with its high degradability in the tested conditions. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that Pluronic F-127 is a promising scaffold for encapsulation of DPSCs and can be considered for cell delivery purposes in tissue engineering.

In Situ Gold Nanoparticle Gradient Formation in a 3D Meso‐ and Macroporous Polymer Matrix

“…The matrix used to host the particles was a hexagonally ordered, lyotropic LC gel, based on the nonionic block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)100–poly(propylene oxide)65–poly(ethylene oxide)100 (Pluronic F127). Pluronic F127 was chosen as the polymer matrix due to its nontoxicity to cells . The copolymer was functionalized with acrylate groups on two ends to obtain its crosslinkable derivative .…”

Multifaceted polymeric materials in three‐dimensional processing (3DP) technologies: Current progress and prospects

“…Pluronic F‐127 (Poloxamer 407) is a synthetic hydrogel made of amphiphilic copolymers consisting of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide with favorable properties such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Its unique characteristic of being thermosensitive enables it to hold encapsulated cells in its structure and favors initial cell adhesion inside the defect site . Pluronic F‐127 with dense tubular and reticular network morphology (Figure ) have been employed as nontoxic scaffold for the encapsulation of dental pulp stem cells as well as control human bone marrow MSCs, yielding high stem cell viability and proliferation, hence can be considered for cell delivery purposes in tissue engineering …”

“…Scanning electron microscopy images of Pluronic F‐127 hydrogel at (A) low and (B) high magnification, showing the porous morphological structure. Reproduced with permission from Diniz et al Copyright Springer Science and Business Media New York 2015…”

Biodegradable polymers for dental tissue engineering and regeneration

“…After 2 weeks of differentiation in vitro, dental pulp stem cells exhibited high levels of mRNA expression for osteogenic and adipogenic gene markers. Furthermore, Pluronic F-127 presented a dense tubular and reticular network morphology, which contributed to its high permeability and solubility [296]. Similarly, Chen et al used pluronic based tooth-binding micellar drug delivery platforms that effectively bind to tooth surfaces.…”