Gelatin/calcium phosphate nanocomposite scaffold containing punica granatum: prepration and evaluation of physicochemical properties

Abstract

Background: Immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulp and periapical disease is a serious problem of endodontics. Regenerative endodontics is performed as a bio-based process with the aim of replacing damaged tissues including dentin and inflamed/necrotic pulp with regenerated pulp-like tissue. Materials and Methods: Electrospinning method was used to prepare gelatin/calcium phosphate nanocomposite scaffold containing punica granatum extract. The voltage was 20 kV, the distance between the tip of the syringe and the collector plate was 10 cm, and the exit rate of the solution from the syringe was set once at 1.5 ml per hour and again at 2.5 ml per hour. Scaffolds were evaluated physicochemically: microscopic methods (SEM and TEM) and spectroscopic methods (FTIR and XRD) were used to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of scaffolds. Mann-Whitney was used for statistical analysis of data. The data was analyzed by SPSS software version 24, and the significance level was considered to be ≥0.05p. Results: The results of the electron microscope morphology evaluations showed that the nanofibers have accumulated uniformly in the form of networked nanofibers. According to the obtained images, the prepared nanofibers did not have any bead (structural defects). No new interactions were observed in the FTIR and XRD spectra of the studied materials and these peaks showed the successful formation of the fibrous nanocomposite scaffold. Conclusion: The appropriate physicochemical results for the prepared fibrous nanocomposite showed that the use of these nanocomposites in optimal formulation can be considered in the construction of various scaffolds in dental tissue engineering, especially in endodontics.