RECENT FINDINGS: Recent advances in hydrogel-based engineering of vascularized organ bud enable vascular regeneration in self-assembled cellular niche containing parenchymal and stromal cells. The emerging technology of whole-organ decellularization provides scaffold materials that serve as extracellular niche guiding vascular regeneration to recapitulate native organ's vascular anatomy. Increasing morphological and molecular evidences suggest endothelial heterogeneity across different organs and across different vascular compartments within an organ. Deriving organ-specific endothelium from pluripotent stem cells has been shown to be possible by combining endothelial induction with parenchymal differentiation.
SUMMARY: Engineering organ-specific vasculature requires the combination of organ-specific endothelium with its unique cellular and extracellular niches. Future investigations are required to further delineate the mechanisms for induction and maintenance of organ-specific vascular phenotypes, and how to incorporate these mechanisms to engineering organ-specific vasculature.
METHODS: NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium and incubated for 3 days. The cells (3×104) were seeded on the pulpal side of dentine discs and the occlusal side of the discs were treated with different cavity disinfectants: Group 1: de-ionized water (control); Group 2: 2% chlorhexidine (CHX); Group 3: 2% QAS; Group 4: 5% QAS, and Group 5: 10% QAS. Cell morphology of NIH 3T3 cells was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cell viability was assessed using Trypan blue assay. The eluates were collected and applied on cells seeded in 24-well plates. The total protein production, alkaline phosphatase activity and deposition of mineralized nodules were evaluated after 7 and 14 days. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on the samples with primary antibodies of CD68+, CD80+, and CD163+ assessing the macrophage M1/M2 phenotypes. The macrophages were imaged using a confocal scanning light microscope with an excitation wavelength of 488nm.
RESULTS: No significant difference in cell viability (p<0.0001), total protein production (p<0.01) and mineralized nodule production (p<0.05) was found between 2% QAS and the control, which was significantly higher than 2% CHX, 5% and 10% QAS after 14 days. Alkaline phosphatase production of 2% QAS was significantly lower than the control (p<0.001), but higher than 2% CHX at 14 days. The M1/M2 macrophage ratio was also significantly lower in the 2% and 10% QAS groups (p<0.05) compared to the control and 2% CHX groups.
SIGNIFICANCE: The 2% QAS cavity disinfectant does not have cytotoxic effects on 3T3 NIH mouse fibroblast cells and the predominance of the anti-inflammatory phenotype after its application may stimulate healing and tissue repair.