Effect of Curcumin-containing Nanofibrous Gelatin-hydroxyapatite Scaffold on Proliferation and Early Osteogenic Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells.

Abstract

In recent years, the electrospinning method has received attention because of its usage in producing a mimetic nanocomposite scaffold for tissue regeneration. Hydroxyapatite and gelatin are suitable materials for producing scaffolds, and curcumin has the osteogenesis induction effect. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and early osteogenic differentiation stimulation of nanofibrous gelatin-hydroxyapatite scaffold containing curcumin on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). The objective of the present investigation was the evaluation of the proliferative effect and primary osteogenic stimulation of DPSCs with a nanofibrous gelatin-hydroxyapatite scaffold containing curcumin. Hydroxyapatite and gelatin were used as suitable and biocompatible materials to make a scaffold suitable for stimulating osteogenesis. Curcumin was added to the scaffold as an osteogenic differentiation- enhancing agent. The effect of nano-scaffold on the proliferation of DPSCs was evaluated. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as the early osteogenic marker was considered to assess primary osteogenesis stimulation in DPSCs. The nanofibrous gelatin-hydroxyapatite scaffold containing curcumin significantly increased the proliferation and the ALP activity of DPSCs (P<0.05). The proliferative effect was insignificant in the first 2 days, but the scaffold increased cell proliferation by more than 40% in the fourth and sixth days. The prepared scaffold increased the activity of the ALP of DPSCs by 60% compared with the control after 14 days (p<0.05). The produced nanofibrous gelatin-hydroxyapatite scaffold containing curcumin can be utilized as a potential candidate in tissue engineering and regeneration of bone and tooth. The prepared scaffold in the present study could be a beneficial biomaterial for tissue engineering and the regeneration of bone and tooth soon.