Polymer-Based Instructive Scaffolds for Endodontic Regeneration

• Published in: Materials Vol. 12; no. 15; p. 2347
• Main Authors: Zein, Naimah, Harmouch, Ezeddine, Lutz, Jean-Christophe, Fernandez De Grado, Gabriel, Kuchler-Bopp, Sabine, Clauss, François, Offner, Damien, Hua, Guoqiang, Benkirane-Jessel, Nadia, Fioretti, Florence
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24.07.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: active biomolecules; Angiogenesis; Biodegradability; Bioengineering; Biomaterials; Biomolecules; Bone marrow; Dental materials; dental pulp; dental stem cells; Dentin; Dentistry; Differentiation; Drug delivery systems; endodontics regeneration; Extracellular matrix; Fluorides; Growth factors; Hydrogels; Life Sciences; Mineralization; nanofibers; Peptides; Polylactic acid; Polymers; Porosity; Regeneration; Review; Scaffolds; Stem cells; Teeth; Tissue engineering; Vascular endothelial growth factor; scaffolds; active biomolecules; dental pulp; hydrogels; polymers; endodontics regeneration; nanofibers; dental stem cells; active
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma12152347

The challenge of endodontic regeneration is modulated by clinical conditions which determine five kinds of tissue requirements: pulp connective-tissue formation, dentin formation, revascularization, reinnervation and radicular edification. Polymer scaffolds constitute keystone of the different endodontic regenerative strategies. Indeed, scaffolds are crucial for carrying active molecules and competent cells which optimize the regeneration. Hydrogels are very beneficial for controlling viscosity and porosity of endodontic scaffolds. The nanofibrous and microporous scaffolds mimicking extracellular matrix are also of great interest for promoting dentin-pulp formation. Two main types of polymer scaffolds are highlighted: collagen and fibrin. Collagen scaffolds which are similar to native pulp tissue, are adequate for pulp connective tissue formation. Functionnalization by active biomolecules as BMP, SDF-1, G-CSF enhances their properties. Fibrin or PRF scaffolds present the advantage of promoting stem cell differentiation and concomitant revascularisation. The choice of the type of polymers (polypeptide, PCL, chitosan) can depend on its ability to deliver the active biomolecule or to build as suitable hydrogel as possible. Since 2010s, proposals to associate different types of polymers in a same scaffold have emerged for adding advantages or for offsetting a disadvantage of a polymer. Further works would study the synergetic effects of different innovative polymers composition.