Injectable thermosensitive antibiotic-laden chitosan hydrogel for regenerative endodontics.

Injectable biomaterials, such as thermosensitive chitosan (CH)-based hydrogels, present a highly translational potential in dentistry due to their minimally invasive application, adaptability to irregular defects/shapes, and ability to carry therapeutic drugs. This work explores the incorporation of azithromycin (AZI) into thermosensitive CH hydrogels for use as an intracanal medication in regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs). The morphological and chemical characteristics of the hydrogel were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Osseointegration of 3D-Printable Polyetheretherketone-Magnesium Phosphate Bioactive Composites for Craniofacial and Orthopedic Implants.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance polymer material for developing varying orthopedic, spine, cranial, maxillofacial, and dental implants. Despite their commendable mechanical properties and biocompatibility, the major limitation of PEEK implants is their low affinity to osseointegrate with the neighboring bone. Over the last two decades, several efforts have been made to incorporate bioactive components such as bioceramic particles in PEEK to enhance its osseointegration capacity.

Guidance on the assessment of the functionality of biomaterials for periodontal tissue regeneration: Methodologies and testing procedures.

Innovative biomaterials and tissue engineering strategies show great promise in regenerating periodontal tissues. This guidance provides an overview and detailed recommendations for evaluating the biological functionality of these new biomaterials in vitro, focusing on mineralization, immunomodulatory effects, cellular differentiation, and angiogenesis. Additionally, it discusses the use of in vivo experimental models that mimic periodontitis and scrutinizes methods such as osteogenic differentiation, immunomodulation, and anti-inflammatory responses to assess the effectiveness of these biomaterials in promoting periodontal tissue reconstruction.

Guidance on biomaterials for periodontal tissue regeneration: Fabrication methods, materials and biological considerations.

Regeneration of the multiple tissues and interfaces in the periodontal complex necessitates multidisciplinary evaluation to establish structure/function relationships. This article, an initiative of the Academy of Dental Materials, provides guidance for performing chemical, structural, and mechanical characterization of materials for periodontal tissue regeneration, and outlines important recommendations on methods of testing bioactivity, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties of biomaterials/scaffolds for periodontal tissue engineering. First, we briefly summarize periodontal tissue engineering fabrication methods.

Multi-strain probiotic formula modulates expression of β-defensin-2, β-defensin-3, and TLR-4 in male rats with apical periodontitis.

Objective: Evaluate whether a multi-strain probiotic formula affects blood parameters (hematologic, calcium, and phosphorus levels) and alters the expression of β-defensin-2, β-defensin-3, and toll-like receptor 4 in male rats with induced apical periodontitis (AP).

Design: Wistar rats were divided into two groups (n = 8 each): (1) rats with AP on a regular diet (Control) and (2) rats with AP on a regular diet supplemented with the multi-strain probiotic GNC Probiotic Complex (GCP) at one billion CFU. AP was induced by exposing the dental pulp of the first molars to the oral environment.

Bioactive glasses for bone tissue engineering: a bibliometric study of the top 100-most cited papers.

Using bioactive glasses (BGs) for bone reconstruction is a promising and expanding field of investigation in regenerative medicine. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the key features of the 100 most cited papers on BG in bone tissue engineering through bibliometric measures. A search was conducted in the Web of Science citation indexing database until October 2023.

Synthetic Periodontal Guided Tissue Regeneration Membrane with Self-Assembling Biphasic Structure and Temperature-Sensitive Shape Maintenance.

Periodontal disease poses significant challenges to the long-term stability of oral health by destroying the supporting structures of teeth. Guided tissue regeneration techniques, particularly barrier membranes, enable local regeneration by providing an isolated, protected compartment for osseous wound healing while excluding epithelial tissue. Here, this study reports on a thermosensitive periodontal membrane (TSPM) technology designed to overcome the mechanical limitations of current membranes through a semi-interpenetrating network of high molecular weight poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and in situ-polymerized mesh of poly(ε-caprolactone)diacrylate (PCL-DA), and poly lactide-co-glycolide diacrylate (PLGA-DA).

Amino Acid-Based Poly(ester urea) Biodegradable Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration.

Barrier membranes (BM) for guided bone regeneration (GBR) aim to support the osteogenic healing process of a defined bony defect by excluding epithelial (gingival) ingrowth and enabling osteoprogenitor and stem cells to proliferate and differentiate into bone tissue. Currently, the most widely used membranes for these approaches are collagen-derived, and there is a discrepancy in defining the optimal collagen membrane in terms of biocompatibility, strength, and degradation rates. Motivated by these clinical observations, we designed a collagen-free membrane based on l-valine--l-phenylalanine-poly(ester urea) (PEU) copolymer via electrospinning.

Sol-gel-derived calcium silicate cement incorporating collagen and mesoporous bioglass nanoparticles for dental pulp therapy.

Objective: Calcium silicate cements (CSCs) are often used in endodontics despite some limitations related to their physical properties and antibacterial efficacy. This study aimed to develop and demonstrate the viability of a series of CSCs that were produced by sol-gel method and further modified with mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) and collagen, for endodontic therapy.

Methods: Calcium silicate (CS) particles and MBGNs were synthesized by the sol-gel method, and their elemental, molecular, and physical microstructure was characterized.

Antimicrobial Silk Fibroin Methacrylated Scaffolds for Regenerative Endodontics.

Introduction: Recognizing the necessity of novel disinfection strategies for improved bacterial control to ultimately favor tissue regeneration, this study developed and characterized antibiotics-laden silk fibroin methacrylated (SilkMA) scaffolds for regenerative endodontics.

Methods: SilkMA-based solutions (10% w/v) containing Clindamycin (CLI) or Tinidazole (TIN) (0 - control; 5, 10, or 15% w/w) or the combination of both drugs (BiMix CLI/TIN 10%) were electrospun and photocrosslinked. Morphology and composition were assessed using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Anti-inflammatory potential of casein enzymatic hydrolysate/gelatin methacryloyl scaffolds for vital pulp therapy.

Objectives: To synthesize casein enzymatic hydrolysate (CEH)-laden gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) fibrous scaffolds and evaluate the cytocompatibility and anti-inflammatory effects on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).

Materials And Methods: GelMA fibrous scaffolds with 10%, 20%, and 30% CEH (w/w) and without CEH (control) were obtained via electrospinning. Chemo-morphological, degradation, and mechanical analyses were conducted to evaluate the morphology and composition of the fibers, mass loss, and mechanical properties, respectively.

Dentin erosive wear is reduced by fluoride varnishes containing nanosized sodium trimetaphosphate in vitro.

This study evaluated the effect of fluoride varnishes containing micrometric or nanosized sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) on dentin erosive wear in vitro. Bovine root dentin blocks were selected by surface hardness and randomly divided into five experimental groups/varnishes (n = 20/group): placebo, 5% sodium fluoride (NaF); 5% NaF+5% micrometric TMP; 5% NaF+2.5% nanosized TMP; and 5% NaF+5% nanosized TMP.

Synthetic high-density lipoprotein (sHDL): a bioinspired nanotherapeutics for managing periapical bone inflammation.

Apical periodontitis (AP) is a dental-driven condition caused by pathogens and their toxins infecting the inner portion of the tooth (i.e., dental pulp tissue), resulting in inflammation and apical bone resorption affecting 50% of the worldwide population, with more than 15 million root canals performed annually in the United States.

Bifunctional naringenin-laden gelatin methacryloyl scaffolds with osteogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Objective: To fabricate and characterize an innovative gelatin methacryloyl/GelMA electrospun scaffold containing the citrus flavonoid naringenin/NA with osteogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Methods: GelMA scaffolds (15 % w/v) containing 0/Control, 5, 10, or 20 % of NA w/w were obtained via electrospinning. The chemical composition, fiber morphology/diameter, swelling/degradation profile, and NA release were investigated.

Strontium-Doped Bioglass-Laden Gelatin Methacryloyl Hydrogels for Vital Pulp Therapy.

This study aimed to develop gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-injectable hydrogels incorporated with 58S bioactive glass/BG-doped with strontium for vital pulp therapy applications. GelMA hydrogels containing 0% (control), 5%, 10%, and 20% BG (/) were prepared. Their morphological and chemical properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy/SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy/EDS, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy/FTIR (n = 3).

Biofabrication Strategies for Oral Soft Tissue Regeneration.

Gingival recession, a prevalent condition affecting the gum tissues, is characterized by the exposure of tooth root surfaces due to the displacement of the gingival margin. This review explores conventional treatments, highlighting their limitations and the quest for innovative alternatives. Importantly, it emphasizes the critical considerations in gingival tissue engineering leveraging on cells, biomaterials, and signaling factors.

Injectable Methacrylated Gelatin Hydrogel for Safe Sodium Hypochlorite Delivery in Endodontics.

Keeping sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) within the root canal is challenging in regenerative endodontics. In this study, we developed a drug delivery system using a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel incorporated with aluminosilicate clay nanotubes (HNTs) loaded with NaOCl. Pure GelMA, pure HNTs, and NaOCl-loaded HNTs carrying varying concentrations were assessed for chemo-mechanical properties, degradability, swelling capacity, cytocompatibility, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities, and in vivo for inflammatory response and degradation.

Citric Acid Conditioning as an Alternative to EDTA for Growth Factors Release and Stem Cell Response in Regenerative Endodontics: A Systematic Review of In Vitro Studies.

Introduction: Citric acid (CA) conditioning may be a promising alternative to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in regenerative endodontic procedures, as reported to improve growth factors' release from dentin. This review systematically investigated the effect of CA conditioning on the growth factors release from dentin and cell behavior compared to EDTA conditioning.

Methods: Searches were conducted (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, SciELO, Cochrane Library, and grey literature) until May-2023.

Calcium Trimetaphosphate-Loaded Electrospun Poly(Ester Urea) Nanofibers for Periodontal Tissue Engineering.

The objective of this research was to create and appraise biodegradable polymer-based nanofibers containing distinct concentrations of calcium trimetaphosphate (Ca-TMP) for periodontal tissue engineering. Poly(ester urea) (PEU) (5% /) solutions containing Ca-TMP (15%, 30%, 45% /) were electrospun into fibrous scaffolds. The fibers were evaluated using SEM, EDS, TGA, FTIR, XRD, and mechanical tests.

Multifunctional and biodegradable methacrylated gelatin/Aloe vera nanofibers for endodontic disinfection and immunomodulation.

Currently employed approaches and materials used for vital pulp therapies (VPTs) and regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) lack the efficacy to predictably achieve successful outcomes due to their inability to achieve adequate disinfection and/or lack of desired immune modulatory effects. Natural polymers and medicinal herbs are biocompatible, biodegradable, and present several therapeutic benefits and immune-modulatory properties; thus, standing out as a clinically viable approach capable of establishing a conducive environment devoid of bacteria and inflammation to support continued root development, dentinal bridge formation, and dental pulp tissue regeneration. However, the low stability and poor mechanical properties of the natural compounds have limited their application as potential biomaterials for endodontic procedures.

Next-generation biomaterials for dental pulp tissue immunomodulation.

Objectives: The current standard for treating irreversibly damaged dental pulp is root canal therapy, which involves complete removal and debridement of the pulp space and filling with an inert biomaterial. A regenerative approach to treating diseased dental pulp may allow for complete healing of the native tooth structure and enhance the long-term outcome of once-necrotic teeth. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to highlight the current state of dental pulp tissue engineering and immunomodulatory biomaterials properties, identifying exciting opportunities for their synergy in developing next-generation biomaterials-driven technologies.