The relative influence of chemistry and morphology on the induction of dental pulp stem cells (DPDC) along osteogenic lineage was investigated. DPSC were plated on spun cast flat polymer films of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and four-vinyl pyridine (P4VP) and on electrospun fibers of these materials, whose fiber radii and spacing was varied. Addition of dexamethasone promoted differentiation on all substrates, as expected. In the absence of dexamethosone,  spontaneous differentiation was not  observed on any of the flat films. On PMMA substrates differentiation was observed only on  fibers with diameters less than one micron, regardless of surface treatment, while copious amounts of hydroxyapatite (HA) were observed on all P4VP fibers. Closer examination revealed that the HA  deposition was templated along the polymer fibers,  where a secondary structure of ECM protein fibers was also present. In order to determine the differentiation pathways induced, odontoblast and osteoblast markers are being evaluated by RT-PCR.

Role of surface chemistry and morphology in dental pulp stem cell differentiation

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.