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Reepithelialization and wound closure are the desired outcome for several ulcerative conditions. Such resolution reduces the possibility of wound contamination and maintenance of the injury and improves the reestablishment of tissue morphology and functions. Investigators are seeking adjuvant therapies that can accelerate wound healing and are developing new strategies for clinical applications. This study compared the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) application and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on cultured epithelial cells. Cells were seeded in 24-well plates. After a 24-h incubation, the epithelial cells were either treated with EGF (100 μM in serum-free DMEM for 72 h) or subjected to LLLT (780 nm, 25 mW, 0.5, 1.5, and 3 J/cm 2 ) by three applications every 24 h. Seventy-two hours after cells were treated with EGF or LLLT, cell migration, viability, proliferation, and collagen synthesis were assessed. Cells treated with EGF showed increased cell viability, proliferation, and collagen synthesis compared with those cells that received no treatment. LLLT enhanced cell migration; however, no significant effects of laser irradiation on other cell functions were observed. Comparison of both therapies demonstrated that EGF and LLLT enhanced specific epithelial cell activities related to wound healing.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the odontogenic potential of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) in contact with an experimental porous chitosan-collagen scaffold (CHC) enriched or not with a mineral phase of calcium-aluminate (CHC-CA)., Material and Methods: To assess the chemotactic effect of the materials, we placed HDPCs seeded on transwell membranes in intimate contact with the CHC or CHC-CA surface, and the cell migration was monitored for 48 h. Additionally, cells were seeded onto the material surface, and the viability and proliferation were evaluated at several time points. To assess the odontoblastic differentiation, we evaluated ALP activity, DSPP/DMP-1 gene expression, and mineralized matrix deposition. HDPCs cultured onto a polystyrene surface (monolayer) were used as negative control group., Results: The experimental CHC-CA scaffold induced intense migration of HDPCs through transwell membranes, with cells attaching to and spreading on the material surface after 24-h incubation. Also, the HDPCs seeded onto the CHC-CA scaffold were capable of migrating inside it, remaining viable and featuring a proliferative rate more rapid than that of CHC and control groups at 7 and 14 days of cell culture. At long-term culture, cells in the CHC-CA scaffold featured the highest deposition of mineralized matrix and expression of odontoblastic markers (ALP activity and DSPP/DMP-1 gene expression)., Conclusions: According to the results, the CHC-CA scaffold is a bioactive and cytocompatible material capable of increasing the odontogenic potential of human pulp cells. Based on analysis of the positive data obtained in this study, one can suggest that the CHC-CA scaffold is an interesting future candidate for the treatment of exposed pulps., Clinical Relevance: The experimental scaffold composed by a chitosan-collagen matrix mineralized with calcium aluminate seems to be an interesting candidate for in vivo application as a cell-free approach to dentin tissue engineering, which may open a new perspective for the treatment of exposed pulp tissue.

The development of biomaterials capable of driving dental pulp stem cell differentiation into odontoblast-like cells able to secrete reparative dentin is the goal of current conservative dentistry. In the present investigation, a biomembrane (BM) composed of a chitosan/collagen matrix embedded with calcium-aluminate microparticles was tested. The BM was produced by mixing collagen gel with a chitosan solution (2:1), and then adding bioactive calcium-aluminate cement as the mineral phase. An inert material (polystyrene) was used as the negative control. Human dental pulp cells were seeded onto the surface of certain materials, and the cytocompatibility was evaluated by cell proliferation and cell morphology, assessed after 1, 7, 14 and 28 days in culture. The odontoblastic differentiation was evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, total protein production, gene expression of DMP-1/DSPP and mineralized nodule deposition. The pulp cells were able to attach onto the BM surface and spread, displaying a faster proliferative rate at initial periods than that of the control cells. The BM also acted on the cells to induce more intense ALP activity, protein production at 14 days, and higher gene expression of DSPP and DMP-1 at 28 days, leading to the deposition of about five times more mineralized matrix than the cells in the control group. Therefore, the experimental biomembrane induced the differentiation of pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells featuring a highly secretory phenotype. This innovative bioactive material can drive other protocols for dental pulp exposure treatment by inducing the regeneration of dentin tissue mediated by resident cells.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a 17.5% H2O2 gel on the odontoblastic differentiation capability of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs)., Design: The bleaching gel was applied for 45, 15 or 5min to enamel/dentine discs adapted to transwells, positioned over previously cultured HDPCs. In the control group, no treatment was performed on the discs. Immediately after samples were bleached, the cell viability (MTT assay) and death (Live/Dead assay) as well as the mRNA gene expression of inflammatory mediators (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2; real-time PCR) were evaluated. The mRNA gene expression of odontoblastic markers (DMP-1, DSPP, and ALP) and mineralized nodule deposition (alizarin red) were assessed at 7, 14 and 21 days post-bleaching. The amount of H2O2 in contact with cells was quantified. Data were evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (α=5%)., Results: Significant cell viability reduction and cell death were observed for bleached groups relative to control in a time-dependent fashion. Also, significant overexpression of all inflammatory mediators tested occurred in the 45- and 15-min groups. In the bleached groups, the expression of ALP, DMP-1, and DSPP and the deposition of mineralized nodules were reduced in comparison with those in the control group, at the initial periods (7 and 14 days). However, the 15- and 5-min groups reached values similar to those in the control group at the 21-day period., Conclusions: The 17.5% H2O2 gel was cytotoxic to pulp cells; however, cells subjected to short-term bleaching are capable of expressing the odontoblastic phenotype over time., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess the cytotoxicity of 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) bleaching gel applied for 15 min to sound or restored teeth with two-step self-etching adhesive systems and composite resin., Materials and Methods: Sound and restored enamel/dentin disks were stored in water for 24 h or 6 months + thermocycling. The disks were adapted to artificial pulp chambers and placed in compartments containing culture medium. Immediately after bleaching, the culture medium in contact with dentin was applied for 1 h to previously cultured odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells. Thereafter, cell viability (MTT assay) and morphology (SEM) were assessed. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (a = 5%)., Results: In comparison to the negative control group (no treatment), no significant cell viability reduction occurred in those groups in which sound teeth were bleached. However, a significant decrease in cell viability was observed in the adhesive-restored bleached groups compared to negative control. No significant difference among bleached groups was observed with respect to the presence of restoration and storage time., Conclusion: The application of 35% HP bleaching gel to sound teeth for 15 min does not cause toxic effects in pulp cells. When this bleaching protocol was performed in adhesive-restored teeth, a significant toxic effect occurred.