Abstract
Our strategy for tissue regeneration is to induce maximum intrinsic healing potential at the site of a tissue defect, applying the elements of tissue engineering. Regeneration of periodontal tissues occurs through the combined application of a collagen sponge scaffold and gelatin microspheres incorporating basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for controlled release. This “sandwich membrane” with or without bFGF (100μg) was applied to a three-walled alveolar bone defect (3 x 4 x 4 mm) in nine dogs. Periodontal tissues, both hard and soft, treated with bFGF were effectively regenerated four weeks after the operation with functional recovery of the periodontal ligament in parts. Next, the effect of combining cells with the treatment was evaluated. Periodontal fenestration defects (6 x 4 mm) were created bilaterally in the maxillary canines of six dogs. One of these was filled with the collagen sponge scaffold seeded with autologous periodontal ligament-derived cells (3 x 105), and the other was left empty. After four weeks, on the cell-seeded side, regeneration of the cementum was observed uniformly on the root surfaces, indicating that the seeded cells had formed new cementum. Our findings suggest a promising new approach to periodontal regeneration that is based upon in situ tissue engineering.
