Gelatin/calcium phosphate nanocomposite containing punica granatum extract: Evaluation of cytotoxicity and effect on differentiation of dental pulp stem cells

Abstract

Introduction Pomegranate seed oil has a wide range of compounds witstrong antioxidant capacity and improves the process of cell regeneration. In this study, for the first time, calcium phosphate scaffold containing pomegranate seed oil was investigated in the process of cell differentiation of dental pulp cells and its cytotoxicity was evaluated. materials and methods In this laboratory study, the samples were analyzed in two groups: cell with calcium phosphate gelatinnanocomposite scaffold containing pomegranate seed oil and cell without scaffold. Scaffolds were placed in the bottom of the wells of the plates and then dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs and SHED) were cultured in a single layer in DMEM containing serum and antibiotics. The toxic effect of scaffold on cells was investigated by MTT test. Then, compared to the control (cells grown in the absence of scaffold), the percentage of living cells was evaluated. The results were analyzed by SPSS24 software and ANOVA statistical test. Results The combination of gelatin/calcium phosphate composite with pomegranate seed oil did not have a toxic effect on cells but had a proliferative effect. In primary teeth pulp stem cells 98.22% and in permanent teeth 63.84%, the survival rate in the composite containing pomegranate seed oil was higher than in the control group. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the samples containing calcium phosphate gelatin nanocomposite containing pomegranate seed oil was higher than the control samples. This result was observed in both types of dental pulp stem cells (milky and permanent). Conclusion Calcium phosphate scaffolds containing pomegranate seed oil can help in the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells, and it is also non-cytotoxic and has a proliferative effect that increases the growth of cells.