Abstract
Titanium (Ti) dental implant(IP)s were embedded within 3-D cultured cell clusters of human mesenchymal stem cells (HMS0014) in Cellmatrix Type I-A collagen gel scaffold; the cells were induced to differentiate into mature osteoblast(Ob)-like cells. Subsequently, we examined hard tissue formation around the Ti-IPs. After phase contrast microscopic examination of diachronic changes in the peri-IP tissue, the IPs and the surrounding scaffold were dissected, resin-embedded, ground-sectioned and prepared for light microscopy (LM). Frozen sections and ultrathin sections were further processed for LM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of the peri-IP tissue. The results demonstrated attachment of the Ob-like cells and deposition of calcifying nodules on IP surfaces. The fine structure TEM study observed secretion of type I collagen fibrils by the Ob-like HMS0014 cells along the Cellmatrix 3-D meshwork, and the occurrence of collagen-mediated mineralization in the scaffold; the cells essentially regulated ECM turnover of the engineered tissue. The present study suggests the utility of collagen gel as a tissue-engineering material to enhance contact and distant osteogenesis for the IP therapy.
