Liposomes loaded with transforming growth factor β1 promote odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells.

This study investigated whether novel liposome formulations loaded with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) could promote the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) for dentine-pulp regeneration. 0-100 ng/mL of liposomal TGF-β1 was prepared using the thin-film hydration method. Release of TGF-β1 from the liposomes was quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The hDPSCs were treated with different concentrations of liposomal TGF-β1 and cell viability was tested using an MTT assay. "Osteodentine" differentiation capacity was assessed by RT-qPCR, ELISA and Alizarin red S staining. The ELISA results showed that liposomal TGF-β1 achieved a controlled and prolonged release over time. The MTT results demonstrated that the liposomes (100 μg/mL) were not cytotoxic to the cells. Liposomal TGF-β1 up-regulated the expression of "osteodentine" markers, RUNX-2, DMP-1 and DSPP, in hDPSCs after 7 days of treatment and resulted in the accumulation of mineralised nodules. This study indicated that liposomes are an effective carrier for delivering TGF-β1 over time. Liposomal TGF-β1 promoted dentinogenesis and increased mineralisation in hDPSCs. This highlights the potential of liposomal TGF-β1 for future use in dentine-pulp regeneration. Liposomal TGF-β1 may be used as a synergist for promoting dentine-pulp regeneration of immature permanent teeth or as a pulp capping agent for inducing reparative dentine formation.