Plant-Based Material Helps Dental Stem Cells Grow into Bone Cells

Greg Howard
28th June, 2024

Plant-Based Material Helps Dental Stem Cells Grow into Bone Cells

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth explored using decellularized spinach leaves as scaffolds for dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)
  • Spinach leaves were chosen for their unique veination patterns, which help create tissue-specific scaffolds
  • The decellularized spinach leaves were non-toxic and supported cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs
Decellularized tissues have emerged as promising scaffolds for three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering, offering a structure that supports cell growth and differentiation. Traditional decellularized animal tissues, however, come with limitations such as availability, high costs, and ethical concerns. A recent study conducted by Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth explored the potential of plant-based tissue scaffolds, specifically using decellularized spinach leaves, for the propagation and osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)[1]. The researchers aimed to address the limitations of animal-based scaffolds by utilizing plant-based scaffolds, which are more readily available, cost-effective, and free from ethical issues. Spinach leaves were chosen due to their unique veination patterns, which can be leveraged to create tissue-specific scaffolds. The study involved decellularizing the spinach leaves using a combination of ethanol, NaOH, and HCL, effectively removing cellular components while preserving the structural integrity of the leaf. To ensure the decellularized spinach leaves were suitable for cell culture, cytotoxicity was assessed using an MTT assay, which measures cell viability. The results confirmed that the spinach leaf scaffolds were non-toxic and supported cell adhesion and proliferation. The DPSCs used in the study were characterized by specific surface markers, including CD90, CD105, and CD73, while excluding CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR, to confirm their mesenchymal stem cell nature. The study demonstrated that the decellularized spinach leaves could support the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. This finding is significant as it highlights the versatility of plant-based scaffolds in supporting stem cell growth and differentiation, making them a potential alternative for bone regeneration in vitro. This research builds on previous findings that have explored various scaffolding materials for tissue engineering. For instance, earlier studies have shown the promise of decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM) matrices in promoting the differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells (hiPSCs-HLCs)[2]. These dAM scaffolds improved hepatic differentiation and functional activities compared to traditional tissue culture plates, indicating the importance of the scaffold material in tissue engineering. Similarly, plant-derived cellulose scaffolds have been investigated for their biocompatibility and potential in tissue engineering. These scaffolds offer advantages such as tunability, natural perfusion, and eco-friendly manufacturing[3][4]. The current study's use of decellularized spinach leaves aligns with these findings, further validating the potential of plant-based scaffolds in regenerative medicine. Moreover, the study's approach to decellularization and scaffold preparation echoes the broader trends in tissue engineering, where the focus is on creating scaffolds with specific mechanical properties, surface roughness, and porosity to support cell growth and differentiation[5]. The pore sizes in scaffolds play a crucial role in nutrient and oxygen diffusion, waste removal, and cell adhesion, all of which are essential for successful tissue regeneration. In conclusion, the research conducted by Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth provides compelling evidence for the use of decellularized spinach leaves as a viable scaffold for bone regeneration. By supporting the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs, these plant-based scaffolds offer a promising alternative to traditional animal-derived scaffolds. This study not only expands the potential applications of plant-derived scaffolds in tissue engineering but also underscores the importance of scaffold material in the successful differentiation and function of stem cells.

MedicineBiotechPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Decellularized leaf-based biomaterial supports osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells.

Published 27th June, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-024-00937-9

Related Studies

2) Decellularized amniotic membrane Scaffolds improve differentiation of iPSCs to functional hepatocyte-like cells.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.29351

3) Plant-Based Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01527

4) Customizing the Shape and Microenvironment Biochemistry of Biocompatible Macroscopic Plant-Derived Cellulose Scaffolds.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b00178

5) Scaffolds and cells for tissue regeneration: different scaffold pore sizes-different cell effects.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-015-9895-4


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