Encapsulation of human endometrial stem cells in chitosan hydrogel containing titanium oxide nanoparticles for dental pulp repair and tissue regeneration in male Wistar rats.

This study aimed to determine the impact of human endometrial stem cells (EnSCs) and titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO ₂ NPs) on dental pulp repair and regeneration in an animal model through dentine development and tissue regeneration. The EnSCs were put on a three-dimensional (3D) chitosan scaffold containing TiO ₂ NPs after obtaining and purifying the collagenase enzyme. Pulps were exposed on the maxillary left first molar of all rats followed by direct pulp capping with the experimental scaffolds, as follows. Groups were: 1, control group without any treatment; 2, chitosan group (CS); 3, chitosan group with stem cells (CS/SCs); 4, chitosan group with stem cells and TiO ₂ NPs (CS/EnSCs/TiO ₂ ). Glass ionomer was used as a sealant in all groups. The teeth were extracted and histologically evaluated after 8 weeks. The quality and amount of dentine in the CS/EnSCs/TiO ₂ group were higher than in the other groups. The combination of EnSCs with TiO ₂ NPs and 3D chitosan scaffolds had a synergistic effect on each other, evidencing increased speed and quality of dentine formation. Using EnSCs with TiO ₂ NPs on a 3D chitosan scaffold can be a suitable combination for direct pulp capping and dentine regeneration in a rat molar tooth model.
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