Adipose-derived stem cells in dentistry

Abstract

In the last decade, applications of tissue engineering technology in dental regenerative medicine have expanded enormously. In particular, the use of mesenchymal stem cells, which are highly proliferative and have the capacity to differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic cells, promises to have a positive impact on the future of dentistry. The therapeutic potential of human multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, which are harvested from bone marrow and adipose tissue, has generated a markedly increased interest within a wide range of biomedical disciplines. Adipose-derived stem cells are especially interesting because of their strong potential for cell differentiation and growth factor secretion. Furthermore, these cells have some advantages over stem cells from other sources, including the fact that a large number of stem cells can be easily and quickly isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue.In clinical dental therapy, several non-stem-cell-based methods have been developed for periodontal and bone tissue engineering. These methods include the stimulation of regeneration using enamel matrix proteins, guided tissue regeneration, various bone grafting techniques, and the application of growth factors and have been applied either alone or in combination. However, there are various limitations and shortcomings in the currently available methods. Therefore, it will be a significant step forward to establish dental tissue engineering techniques using mesenchymal stem cells. In this review, the fundamentals of periodontal tissue regeneration and bone tissue engineering are discussed. In particular, the use of adipose-derived stem cells in periodontal tissue regeneration, bone tissue engineering, and the engineering of other complex tissues are discussed.