A Dual-Network Thermosensitive Tricalcium Silicate-Based Pulp Capping Agent Based on Sodium Alginate and Modified Chitosan.

Abstract

Pulp capping agents with an uncontrollable degradation process, a long setting time, and low compressive strength have attracted great attention in vital pulp therapy. However, the current direct pulp capping (DPC) materials used in clinical practice are limited, resulting in an unsatisfactory clinical treatment effect. Herein, we developed a multifunctional composite material mainly composed of tricalcium silicate, oxidized sodium alginate, and chitosan grafted with glutamic acid (CSGOC-GP) by an organic-inorganic hybrid approach for the all-dimensional vital pulp therapy. The structure of the component was confirmed by ¹H NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and XRD. The mechanical test results showed that the compressive strength of the composites could be significantly increased to 37.0 MPa, and the setting time was adjusted to the most appropriate time (13.4 min). In vitro cell experiments indicated that CSGOC-GP promoted the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Bacterial study confirmed that CSGOC-GP was highly effective in inhibiting Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), especially reducing the mature biofilm of S. mutans. Moreover, in vivo study verified that the material was biocompatible. Therefore, this DPC material, fabricated via an organic-inorganic hybrid strategy, offers a direction for the development of vital pulp therapy materials.