Progress and Challenges in Microengineering the Dental Pulp Vascular Microenvironment

Vascularized pulp regeneration via injecting simvastatin functionalized GelMA cryogel microspheres loaded with stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth

“…Dental derived stem cells play a substantial role in promoting pulp regeneration, nevertheless, stem cells have limited capacity to differentiate into the desired phenotype in devitalized root canals [ 42 , 43 ]. Dental pulp tissue is enclosed within the calcified tooth root canals with apical foramen the only access to peripheral tissues, and it is difficult to regenerate blood vessels by relying solely on the angiogenic ability of dental derived stem cells [ 44 ]. Recruitment of endothelial cells contributes to the formation of dental pulp with a rich vasculature network similar to that of native dental pulp [ 45 ].…”

Biomaterial scaffolds for clinical procedures in endodontic regeneration

“…The aqueous extract of the 3D-printed scaffold contained more calcium and phosphorus ions and can better promote cell proliferation and differentiation. Vascularization of a functional and interconnected vasculature in REPs through traditional strategies may requires time intensive biological processes, especially for full-length root canals of mature teeth [ 218 ]. Recently, 3D bioprinting technology and odontoblast-laden photocrosslinkable hydrogels were used to fabricate pre-vascularized pulp-like tissue constructs with 500 μm microchannels throughout the root canals [ 219 ].…”

Bioprinting of Complex Multicellular Organs with Advanced Functionality—Recent Progress and Challenges Ahead

“…with extensive success, only a few papers have included the presence of perivascular cells, which are known to regulate important physiologic process of endothelial barrier function, among others. [154,157] Extensive work by our group has been conducted to characterize the specific microenvironmental and tissue fabrication conditions that enable the consistent and reproducible fabrication of vascular capillaries in vitro, [168][169][170][171][172] and many other groups have generated vascularized organoids as well. [173] It has been demonstrated that biological requirements, such as stem cell source, [169] mechanical properties, [172] hydrogel and medium composition, [157] cell ratios, [157] and a variety of different conditions, all play a significant role in ensuring adequate endothelial-perivascular cell communication.…”