DESIGN, OPTIMISATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF BIOACTIVE 3D SCAFFOLDS FOR DENTIN REPAIR

Abstract

This study involves the design, fabrication and characterization of polymeric scaffold for pulp repair. The study establishes the scaffold-based tissue engineering for dental pulp regeneration as an alternate method to cure pulp decay.

Scaffolds comprising a composite comprising Poly-E-Caprolactone (PCL) and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), fabricated through Electrohydrodynamic Jetting are assessed for mechanical and biological compatibility by characterizing the mechanical, material, morphological and biological characteristics of the scaffold.

Optimization Studies based on Taguchi’s Method’s were conducted using Taguchi’s Orthogonal Arrays (OA’s) to determine the optimized scaffold composition and morphology. The optimized scaffolds were tested for biological functionality. Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSC’s) were cultured on the scaffold and the suitability of the scaffold was assessed both invitro and in vivo through proliferation, differentiation and histological assays.