Researchers get closer to regenerative dentistry through 3D printing

China3D printingNet, May 12, the interdisciplinary team of researchers at Leuven University has taken a step forward and can use3D printingTeeth grow from the roots.
Dental conditions caused by trauma and developmental abnormalities usually affect the developing permanent teeth, especially in children, causing tissue loss and even the loss of entire teeth. In order to solve this problem, through the “root” of tissue bioengineering, dental tissue engineering has become a potential means of restoration, regeneration and even tooth replacement.
In their latest study, the research team studied the effects of chitosan scaffolds from animal and fungal sources.3D printing, These stents may be used in such regenerative dental applications in the future.



The manufacturing process of scaffolding. Picture from KU Leuven.

3D printingAnd Regenerative Medicine

3D printingThe role in regenerative medicine is still in its infancy, although there have been some promising developments in this field recently.
Scientists at the University of Buffalo started with a breakthrough in human tissue bioprinting and developed a rapid new type3D bioprintingThe method aims to bring fully printed human organs closer to reality, and researchers at Lund University have developed a new 3D printable bio-ink that can be extracted from seaweed and lungs. It can be used to print tissues similar to the structure of the human airway, which can support the growth of cells and blood vessels.

3D printingMachine OEM 3D Systems also recently announced a breakthrough in its “from printing to perfusion” bioprinting platform, which can now quickly produce full-size, vascularized lung stents. Therefore, the company is planning to increase its regenerative medicine activities.
Recently, researchers at Pennsylvania State University introduced a3D bioprintingProcess, the process can print hard tissue and soft tissue at the same time, thereby repairing skin and bone damage in one step.
Even though3D printingChina has made great strides in dental applications (such as customized aligners, permanent crowns and dental implants), but the development of regenerative medicine for dental applications has not received much attention. However, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have recently been explored to replace damaged and missing tooth tissue, and encouraging results have been obtained, such as regenerative endodontic treatment procedures.

These procedures are designed to repair or replace inflamed or damaged dental pulp (the central part of the tooth made up of live connective tissue and cells) to restore angiogenesis, immune response, nerve supply and dentin disposal. The largest structural part of a tooth that provides support for enamel.



The SEM image shows the microstructure of the scaffold. Picture from KU Leuven.

3D printingChitosan scaffold

Researchers believe that in addition to biocompatibility, biodegradability and gel-forming ability, chitosan also has antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties, so it has attracted people’s attention in dental tissue engineering applications. Chitosan is partially derived from the exoskeletons of crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimps, fungi or insects.

Two types of chitosan were selected for this particular study. Animal-derived chitosan and fungal chitosan derived from Aspergillus niger. Aspergillus niger is a common fungus that causes black mold. Gelatin powder is used as an additional polymer, while Genipin and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) are used as crosslinking agents.Chitosan-based scaffolds are prepared by emulsion freeze-drying technology, which involves the use of CAD software to design a suitable size mold, and then use polyjet 3D printingMachine for printing. The polymer solution is then prepared and dispensed in a mold, and then immediately placed in dry ice for directional freezing to obtain a radially oriented pore structure.The mold was then freeze-dried for 24 hours and demolded to obtain the final scaffold. This time, while printing the basic mold,3D printingAllows the design and production of special molds for patients and teeth, so scaffolding can also be designed and produced.In particular, the fungus-derived chitosan scaffold has been explored for its desirable properties of reducing the risk of allergic reactions, low molecular weight and enhancing antibacterial properties.

More generally, the direct clinical application of scaffolds in the cell-free regeneration of dental pulp of immature teeth to control infection and induce dentin formation and root formation has been studied. The researchers also believe that the addition of inorganic ingredients (such as bioactive glass) can promote alveolar bone regeneration, thereby modifying the custom scaffolding. Alveolar bone is a thick bone ridge containing the alveolar on the human jaw.

Looking to the future, the team will focus on understanding the response of stem cells and immune cells to the scaffold in order to optimize its application in alveolar tissue engineering.

China3D printingNet compile article!

(Editor in charge: admin)