Application of green tea extracts epigallocatechin-3-gallate in dental materials: Recent progress and perspectives.

Because of excellent biocompatibility, antioxidant activity, and anti-caries ability, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been widely studied in the treatment of oral diseases, such as periodontal disease, oral cancer, and dental caries. To reach the site of the lesion or achieve sustained release, play the role of anti-caries, anti-inflammatory, or to maintain or improve the physical properties of the modified material，EGCG need to be cross-linked or embedded with dental adhesives, barrier membranes, bone replacement materials, tissue regeneration materials, and antimicrobial anti-caries materials to better prevent or treat oral diseases. This article reviews the applications of EGCG in oral materials, involving various areas of the oral cavity, reveals their excellent potential, and sees shortcomings in these research to promote the better development of EGCG applications in oral materials such as oral repair materials, bone tissue engineering materials and antibacterial and anti-caries materials.

Progress in the combined application of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and basic fibroblast growth factor in bone tissue engineering / 口腔疾病防治

@#Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are two important signaling molecules for natural bone repair that are widely applied in the field of bone tissue engineering. BMP-2 accelerates the maturation and mineralization of osteoblasts, and bFGF exhibits significant effects on the promotion of cell division and angiogenesis. The osteogenesis mechanism of BMP-2 differs from that of bFGF, leading to a potentially complementary role between the two proteins. The use of a suitable dose of bFGF in combination with BMP-2 in bone tissue engineering synergistically promotes the formation of new bone and exhibits a better repair effect than either single growth factor. However, the suitable dose range of BMP-2 and bFGF in combination should be further clarified. The mechanism of the synergism and antagonism between BMP-2 and bFGF must be further delineated, and a drug delivery system that better simulates the growth factor release pattern during natural bone repair remains to be designed.

Evaluation of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Modified Collagen Membrane and Concerns on Schwann Cells.

Collagen is an essential component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and is a suitable material for nerve repair during tissue remodeling for fracture repair. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an extract of green tea, shows various biological activities that are beneficial to nerve repair. Here, we developed modified collagen containing different concentrations of EGCG (0.0064%, 0.064%, and 0.64%, resp.) to induce Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation. Cell Counting Kit-8 test, live/dead assay, and SEM showed that collagen cross-linked by EGCG induced Schwann cell proliferation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting revealed that EGCG-modified collagen induced Schwann cell differentiation and downregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by downregulating the MAPK P38 signaling pathway. Our results indicate that collagen cross-linked with an appropriate concentration of EGCG induces the proliferation and differentiation of Schwann cells. The EGCG-modified collagen membrane may be applicable for nerve repair and guided tissue regeneration applications.

Green Tea Extracts Epigallocatechin-3-gallate for Different Treatments.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a component extracted from green tea, has been proved to have multiple effects on human pathological and physiological processes, and its mechanisms are discrepant in cancer, vascularity, bone regeneration, and nervous system. Although there are multiple benefits associated with EGCG, more and more challenges are still needed to get through. For example, EGCG shows low bioactivity via oral administration. This review focuses on effects of EGCG, including anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticollagenase, and antifibrosis effects, to express the potential of EGCG and necessity of further studies in this field.

Preliminary evaluation of a novel strong/osteoinductive calcium phosphate cement.

We developed a novel calcium phosphate cement (CPC) by combining the silk fibroin and osteogenic supplements (ß-glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid, and dexamethasone) with α-tricalcium phosphate cement. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured on the novel CPC scaffold. Results showed that the novel CPC scaffold was biocompatible and favorable for the adhesion, spreading, and proliferation of MSCs. Osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was confirmed by high osteocalcin content and elevated gene expressions of bone markers, such as alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I, and osteocalcin. Therefore, the novel CPC scaffold may be potentially useful for implant fixation and more rapid new bone formation in moderate load-bearing applications.