We demonstrate how PB canbe used to induce the differentiation of DPSCs through surface interactions inthe absence of osteogenic inducers (dexamethasone; Dex). Instead of physically or chemicallycrosslinking polymers, we use the principal of entangled polymer surfaceconfinement (EPSC) to continuously vary substrate modulii and imprint patternswhere only the underlying mechanics are varied while surface chemistry andtopography remains unchanged. We showed:(1) without Dex, DPSCs are sensitive to differentially small changes insubstrate mechanics, continuously adjusting their modulii within a factor of2.5 (p<0.01) of the substrate value, (2) using SMFM and qRT-PCR, a criticalvalue for PB modulus exists, above which odontogenesis occurred without Dex. (3)Surface presence, but not contact was required for osteocalcin expressiondetected immunohistochemically. The responseof DPSC to mechanical heterogeneity was probed and showed micro-scale patternshindered biomineralization, even with Dex, while nano-scale patterns promotedbiomineralization even without Dex.

Elastomeric polybutadiene (PB) polymer surfaces induce adult dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) differentiation

245th National Meeting (2013)

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