Evaluation of bioprinted hydrogels containing decellularized bovine bone matrix applied for dentin regeneration

• Grant number: 21/09498-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Diana Gabriela Soares dos Passos
• Grantee: Isabela Sanches Pompeo da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The possibilities of clinical treatment for exposed pulps are still limited due to the use of materials that, when in contact with the pulp tissue, lead to coagulation necrosis prior tissue regeneration. Furthermore, these materials are found in a pasty form, which makes it impossible to modulate the porosity of the biomaterial even with the application of techniques based on physicochemical reactions. Thus, the search for minimally invasive regenerative strategies that stimulate the formation of restorative dentin by stimulating undifferentiated pulp cells, and that support cell proliferation and differentiation based on the adequate porosity of the biomaterial, is necessary. Therefore, this project aims the development and evaluation of bioprinted hydrogels based on methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) associated with different proportions of microparticulated decellularized bovine bone matrix (dBM), used as a bioactive factor in scaffolds. In the first phase of the project, the hydrogels will be manufactured with different concentrations of dBM, with a physical-chemical-biological characterization being carried out to select potential formulations. After determining the formulation and technique for obtaining the hydrogels, they will be submitted to bioprinting with DPCs, forming cylindrical scaffolds with different architectures, in order to obtain an ideal pattern to promote the odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp cells (DPCs). In the third phase of the project, cell-free bioprinted hydrogels will be cultivated in a biomimetic model of artificial pulp chamber and the induction of chemotaxis, cell viability, cell proliferation and odontogenic differentiation will be evaluated. At the end, the qualitative data will be analyzed descriptively and the quantitative data will be submitted to specific statistical analysis.