Periodontal Wound Healing by Transplantation of Jaw Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Chitosan/Anorganic Bovine Bone Carrier Into One-Wall Infrabony Defects in Beagles

Background: This study aims to evaluate the performance of chitosan/anorganic bovine bone (C/ABB) scaffold seeded with human jaw bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hJBMMSCs) in supporting the healing/repair of 1-wall critical-size periodontal defects. Methods: Physical properties of the C/ABB scaffold were compared with those of the chitosan scaffold. hJBMMSCs were obtained from healthy human alveolar bone during the extraction of third molar impacted teeth. One-wall (7 x 4 mm) infrabony defects were surgically created at the bilateral mandibular third pre-molars and first molars in six beagles. The defects were randomly assigned to six groups and implanted with different scaffolds: 1) chitosan (C) scaffold; 2) C scaffold with hJBMMSCs (C + cell); 3) C/ABB scaffold (C/ABB); 4) C/ABB scaffold with hJBMMSCs (C/ABB + cell); 5) ABB scaffold (ABB); and 6) open flap debridement (control). The animals were euthanized 8 weeks after surgery for histologic analysis. Results: The C/ABB scaffold had a porous structure and increased compressive strength. Both C/ABB and C/ABB + cell exhibited the newly formed cellular mixed-fiber cementum, woven/lamellar bone, and periodontal ligament. Cementum formation was significantly greater in group C/ABB + cell than in group C/ABB (2.64 +/- 0.50 mm versus 0.91 +/- 0.55 mm, P < 0.05). For new bone (NB) height, group C/ABB + cell and C/ABB showed mean +/- SD values of 2.83 +/- 0.29 mm and 2.65 +/- 0.52 mm and for NB area 8.89 +/- 1.65 mm and 8.73 +/- 1.94 mm(2), respectively. For NB (height and area), there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: The combination of hJBMMSCs and C/ABB scaffolds could promote periodontal repair. Future studies are expected to further optimize the combination and lead to an ideal periodontal regeneration.