Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
2
Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
3
Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
4
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
5
Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the osteogenic response of human dermal fibroblasts
(hDFs) and human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) when exposed to hydroxyapatite
nanoparticles (HA-NPs), which are commonly employed biomaterials in the field of
bone regeneration.
The sol-gel method was employed to synthesize HA-NPs. Cell viability was assessed
using the MTT assay after 24 and 72 hours of exposure to HA-NPs. Osteogenic
differentiation was assessed through Alizarin red S staining (ARS), alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to evaluate
the expression levels of osteogenic markers, including BMP-2, VEGF-A, RUNX2, and
IL-6. The HA-NPs had a nanorod shape, with dimensions of 17–29 nm in width and
62–89 nm in length. Both hDPSCs and hDFs demonstrated enhanced osteogenic
potential when exposed to HA-NPs, as indicated by increased ARS staining for
calcium deposition and elevated ALP activity. Gene expression analysis showed up-
regulation of BMP-2 and VEGF-A and down-regulation of RUNX2 in both cell types.
IL-6 expression markedly increased in hDFs but did not show significant changes in
hDPSCs compared to the control group. The findings of this study suggest that HA-
NPs may enhance the osteogenic capability of hDPSCs and hDFs. The results
demonstrate that while fibroblasts exhibit some mineralization potential, hDPSCs are
the most suitable cell type for bone regenerative applications.
Keywords