Development of antimicrobial peptide-loaded hydrogels as potential scaffolds for pulp-dentine complex regeneration: A comparative study

Noohi, Parisa, Abdekhodaie, Mohammad J., Nekoofar, Mohammad H., Gama, Miguel, Saadatmand, Maryam and Dummer, Paul M.H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0726-7467 2025. Development of antimicrobial peptide-loaded hydrogels as potential scaffolds for pulp-dentine complex regeneration: A comparative study. Journal of Endodontics 10.1016/j.joen.2025.01.018 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Introduction: As a recently developed treatment modality, regeneration of the pulp-dentin-like complex via tissue engineering (TE) approaches is the focus of considerable attention. The persistence of bacteria within the root canal spaces is well known as the major challenge of dental pulp regeneration. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short peptides with inhibitory activities against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. Methods: In the present study, antimicrobial hydrogels based on two photo-reactive biopolymers, i.e. collagen methacrylate (ColMA) and chitosan methacrylate (ChitMA), and containing two different AMPs, i.e. LLKKK18 and Tet213, were used to develop a potential scaffold with antimicrobial and regenerative features. Results: The incorporation of AMPs had no significant effect on the physical, mechanical, rheological, and morphological properties of the new systems. The optimized concentration of LLKKK18 and Tet213 had appropriate antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Enterococcus fæcalis (E. fæcalis) and did not exhibit any cytotoxicity to stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP) encapsulated within the hydrogels compared to the control group without AMPs. The presence of AMPs also significantly promoted migration and differentiation of SCAP. In the AMP-loaded groups, greater levels of calcified nodules deposition, ALP, COL I, DSPP, DMP1, and VEGF mRNA gene expression, and COL I and DSPP protein expression were observed. Conclusions: The results indicated the potential of engineered antimicrobial ColMA/ChitMA hydrogels for application in TE-based strategies to regenerate the pulp-dentin complex.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Dentistry
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0099-2399
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 March 2025
Date of Acceptance:	26 January 2025
Last Modified:	10 Mar 2025 11:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/176109

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