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Fibro/chondrogenic differentiation of dental stem cells into chitosan/alginate scaffolds towards temporomandibular joint disc regeneration

  • Special Issue: ESB 2017
  • Original Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

Tissue engineering (TE) may provide effective alternative treatment for challenging temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathologies associated with disc malpositioning or degeneration and leading to severe masticatory dysfunction. Aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of chitosan/alginate (Ch/Alg) scaffolds to promote fibro/chondrogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and production of fibrocartilage tissue, serving as a replacement of the natural TMJ disc. Ch/Alg scaffolds were fabricated by crosslinking with CaCl2 combined or not with glutaraldehyde, resulting in two scaffold types that were physicochemically characterized, seeded with DPSCs or human nucleus pulposus cells (hNPCs) used as control and evaluated for cell attachment, viability, and proliferation. The DPSCs/scaffold constructs were incubated for up to 8 weeks and assessed for extracellular matrix production by means of histology, immunofluorescence, and thermomechanical analysis. Both Ch/Alg scaffold types with a mass ratio of 1:1 presented a gel-like structure with interconnected pores. Scaffolds supported cell adhesion and long-term viability/proliferation of DPSCs and hNPCs. DPSCs cultured into Ch/Alg scaffolds demonstrated a significant increase of gene expression of fibrocartilaginous markers (COLI, COL X, SOX9, COM, ACAN) after up to 3 weeks in culture. Dynamic thermomechanical analysis revealed that scaffolds loaded with DPSCs significantly increased storage modulus and elastic response compared to cell-free scaffolds, obtaining values similar to those of native TMJ disc. Histological data and immunochemical staining for aggrecan after 4 to 8 weeks indicated that the scaffolds support abundant fibrocartilaginous tissue formation, thus providing a promising strategy for TMJ disc TE-based replacement.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a scholarship from the Greek State Scholarship Foundation (IKY), funded by the action “Enhancing human research potential through doctoral research” from resources of the European Program “Development of Human Potential, Education and Lifelong Learning”, 2014–2020 funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and National Resources (MIS 5000432).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, Dentistry Building, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Maria Bousnaki, Athina Bakopoulou & Petros Koidis

  2. Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Voutes Campus, Heraklion, 71003, Crete, Greece

    Danai Papadogianni, Kalliopi Alpantaki & Maria Chatzinikolaidou

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45500, Ioannina, Greece

    Nektaria-Marianthi Barkoula

  4. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54006, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Aristidis Kritis

  5. cGMP Regenerative Medicine facility, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54006, Greece

    Aristidis Kritis

  6. Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion, 70013, Crete, Greece

    Maria Chatzinikolaidou

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  1. Maria Bousnaki
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Bousnaki, M., Bakopoulou, A., Papadogianni, D. et al. Fibro/chondrogenic differentiation of dental stem cells into chitosan/alginate scaffolds towards temporomandibular joint disc regeneration. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 29, 97 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6109-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6109-6

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