Enamel-like tissue regeneration by using biomimetic enamel matrix proteins

Enamel regeneration currently -is limited by our inability to duplicate artificially its complicated and well-aligned hydroxyapatite structure. The initial formation of enamel occurs in enamel organs where the ameloblasts secret enamel extracellular matrix formed a unique gel-like microenvironment. The enamel extracellular matrix is mainly composed by amelogenin and non-amelogenin. In this study, an innovative strategy was proposed to regenerate enamel-like tissue by constructing a microenvironment using biomimetic enamel matrix proteins (biomimetic EMPs) composed of modified leucine-rich amelogenin peptide (mLRAP) and nonamelogenin analog (NAA). Impressively, the regenerated enamel in this biomimetic EMPs on etched enamel surface produced prismatic structures, and showed similar mechanical properties to natural enamel. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that regenerated crystal was hydroxyapatite. Molecular dynamics simulation analysis showed the binding energy between mLRAP and NAA were electrostatic forces and Van der Walls. These results introduced a promising strategy to induce crystal growth of enamel-like hydroxyapatite for biomimetic reproduction of materials with complicated hierarchical microstructures.

Automated summary

This study proposed an innovative strategy to regenerate enamel-like tissue using biomimetic enamel matrix proteins on etched enamel surface, producing prismatic structures with similar mechanical properties to natural enamel. Analysis through XRD and FTIR confirmed the regenerated crystal as hydroxyapatite. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the binding energy between mLRAP and NAA were primarily electrostatic forces and Van der Walls. These results present a promising approach for inducing crystal growth of enamel-like hydroxyapatite for biomimetic reproduction of materials with complex hierarchical microstructures.