The bone formation in vitro and mandibular defect repair using PLGA porous scaffolds.

Highly porous scaffolds of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were prepared by solution-casting/salt-leaching method. The in vitro degradation behavior of PLGA scaffold was investigated by measuring the change of normalized weight, water absorption, pH, and molecular weight during degradation period. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were seeded and cultured in three-dimensional PLGA scaffolds to fabricate in vitro tissue engineering bone, which was investigated by cell morphology, cell number and deposition of mineralized matrix. The proliferation of seeded MSCs and their differentiated function were demonstrated by experimental results. To compare the reconstructive functions of different groups, mandibular defect repair of rabbit was made with PLGA/MSCs tissue engineering bone, control PLGA scaffold, and blank group without scaffold. Histopathologic methods were used to estimate the reconstructive functions. The result suggests that it is feasible to regenerate bone tissue in vitro using PLGA foams with pore size ranging from 100-250 microm as scaffolding for the transplantation of MSCs, and the PLGA/MSCs tissue engineering bone can greatly promote cell growth and have better healing functions for mandibular defect repair. The defect can be completely recuperated after 3 months with PLGA/MSCs tissue engineering bone, and the contrastive experiments show that the defects could not be repaired with blank PLGA scaffold. PLGA/MSCs tissue engineering bone has great potential as appropriate replacement for successful repair of bone defect.

[Effect of polymeric scaffolds on attachment and growth of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells].

To investigate the effect of three kinds of polymeric scaffolds on attachment, proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, the cells were different polymeric scaffolds of PLA-PEG, PLA, PLGA, respectively. The proliferation of cell was evaluated by cell count; the attachment and morphology of BMSCs were observed by SEM; and differentiation was detected by alkaline phosphatase activity, fluorescence, and RT-PCR methods. Results showed that the cells in PLGA group spread better among BMSCs adhered to the three polymeric scaffolds. The activity of ALP was detected after 3 days culture in these three groups. There were no significant differences between PLA-PEG and PLGA groups, but the activity of ALP was higher than PLA group. The gene expressions of osteocalicin and collagen I were also observed in the early culture time. Calcium nodes formation in these polymeric scaffolds were detected. BMSC spreading first, then overlapping growth and secretion of matrix around the bottom and surface of scaffolds were observed through SEM. In summary, PLA-PEG and PLGA are better polymeric scaffolds for the bone tissue engineering, compared with PLA.

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the clonality of Porphyromonas gingivalis and collagenase gene.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genotypic characterization of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and the heterogeneity of a potential virulence factor-PrtC. METHODS: Arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) was applied to 80 Pg strains isolated from 24 unrelated Chinese periodontitis patients. PCR reaction was used to detect a fragment of the collagenase gene (PrtC gene). To evaluate the sequence heterogeneity of the Pg PrtC genes, sequence analysis of four PrtC gene of clinical isolates was performed. RESULTS: Random primer OPA-05 and OPA-17 distinguished 7 AP-PCR profiles (I through VII). The majority of the strains belonged to type VII which accounted for 25.8%. A 548bp fragment of PrtC gene was detected from 24 clinical strains. The PCR products were verified by the restriction endonucleases PstI and PvuI. Sequence analysis showed 4 PrtC genes were heterogeneous in their nucleotide composition and differed from reference strain Pg 53977. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated genetic diversity existed among these clinical strains isolated from Chinese periodontitis patients and the PrtC genes are heterogeneous in their nucleotide sequence.