Human recombinant cementum protein 1, dental pulp stem cells, and PLGA/hydroxyapatite scaffold as substitute biomaterial in critical size osseous defect repair in vivo.

Objective: To evaluate the healing response of critical defects in rat calvaria with recombinant cementum protein 1 (hrCEMP-1) combined with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) and polylactide-co-glycolide/hydroxyapatite (PLGA/HA) scaffold.

Methods: The effect of hrCEMP-1 on proliferation and differentiation of human dental stem cells (hDPSCs) toward a mineralizing-like phenotype was evaluated in monolayer and PLGA/HA scaffold by qPCR. 5 mm calvarial defects were created in Wistar rats and filled with: 1) PLGA/HA scaffold; 2) hDPSCs-PLGA/HA scaffold; 3) hrCEMP-1-hDPSc-PLGA/HA scaffold; 4) control (without scaffold).