In vitro evaluation of the osteogenic and antimicrobial potential of porous wollastonite scaffolds impregnated with ethanolic extracts of propolis.

Context: The development of porous devices using materials modified with various natural agents has become a priority for bone healing processes in the oral and maxillofacial field. There must be a balance between the proliferation of eukaryotic and the inhibition of prokaryotic cells to achieve proper bone health. Infections might inhibit the formation of new alveolar bone during bone graft augmentation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro osteogenic behavior of human bone marrow stem cells and assess the antimicrobial response to 3D-printed porous scaffolds using propolis-modified wollastonite. Methodology: A fractional factorial design of experiments was used to obtain a 3D printing paste for developing scaffolds with a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) gyroid geometry based on wollastonite and modified with an ethanolic propolis extract. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was characterized using free radical scavenging methods (DPPH and ABTS). Cell proliferation and osteogenic potential using Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells (bmMSCs) were assessed at different culture time points up to 28 days. MIC and inhibition zones were studied from single strain cultures, and biofilm formation was evaluated on the scaffolds under co-culture conditions. The mechanical strength of the scaffolds was evaluated. Results: Through statistical design of experiments, a paste suitable for printing scaffolds with the desired geometry was obtained. Propolis extracts modifying the TPMS gyroid scaffolds showed favorable cell proliferation and metabolic activity with osteogenic potential after 21 days. Additionally, propolis exhibited antioxidant activity, which may be related to the antimicrobial effectiveness of the scaffolds against S. aureus and S. epidermidis cultures. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were not affected by propolis impregnation. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that propolis-impregnated porous wollastonite scaffolds might have the potential to stimulate bone repair in maxillofacial tissue engineering applications.

Deformation behaviour of aged coronal dentin.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the changes in the time-dependent deformation response of coronal dentin with ageing and its relationship with changes in chemical composition. BACKGROUND: The structural behaviour of dentin with ageing is affected by changes in the density and diameter of its dentinal tubules (ie porosity), as well as changes in chemical composition throughout the tooth. However, little is known about the time-dependent deformation behaviour of aged dentin and the importance of its hierarchical structure and variations in chemical composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The spherical indentation response of aged coronal dentin was analysed in the outer, middle and inner regions, and its time-dependent deformation response was modelled in terms of its microstructure and chemical composition using a model recently proposed for young dentin. RESULTS: The viscous deformation behaviour of aged dentin followed a power-law response with a decrease in the stress exponent when compared to young dentin. These results can be explained by cross-linking of the collagen present in the tissue. CONCLUSION: A decrease in the deformation ability of aged dentin was found. This behaviour could be a result of a dissolution process and reprecipitation of the minerals present in intertubular dentin into the dentinal tubules.