Research progress and pre-clinical challenges in periodontal ligament reconstruction using dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells and 3D bioprinting

Zimeng Chen

doi:10.54254/3049-5458/2025.28520

Abstract

The periodontal ligament’s viscoelastic collagen mesh anchors teeth to alveolar bone yet is irreversibly destroyed by periodontitis or trauma; conventional grafts restore neither Sharpey’s fibers nor vascularity. We therefore surveyed recent progress in rebuilding this interface by coupling dental-pulp mesenchymal stem cells with 3D-bioprinted scaffolds. A systematic literature search (PubMed/Web of Science, 2019–2024) yielded 58 eligible articles that were narratively analysed. Low-temperature extrusion, digital-light-processing and micro-valve jetting each preserved >90 % DP-MSC viability, with micro-valve patterning achieving 25 µm resolution critical for fiber alignment. Gradient GelMA-collagen/PCL bioinks (20 MPa → 50 MPa) matched native modulus, while co-printing DP-MSCs with VEGF- or TGF-β3-laden microspheres doubled vessel density and elevated COL1A1/Periostin five-fold through synergistic Smad2/3-β-catenin signalling. In 5-mm periodontal defects of beagles, these constructs achieved 78% bone volume regeneration, a density of 42 Sharpey’s fibers per square millimeter, and 80% recovery of mechanical strength at the 12-week time point. Remaining hurdles—donor heterogeneity, scaffold degradation mismatch and M1/M2 imbalance—were mitigated by HLA-typed iPSC-DP-MSCs, enzyme-responsive PCL (t½ 10 weeks) and IL-10 liposomes. Thus, standardised stem-cell banks integrated with dynamic, immunomodulatory 3D printing constitute a clinically translatable platform for personalised periodontal regeneration.

Keywords: dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells , 3D bioprinting , periodontal ligament regeneration , TGF-β3/Smad2/3 , Wnt/β-catenin , pre-clinical models

Article Information

Received: 20 October 2025

Published: 28 October 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54254/3049-5458/2025.28520

Article Type: Research Article

Cite this article

Chen,Z. (2025). Research progress and pre-clinical challenges in periodontal ligament reconstruction using dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells and 3D bioprinting. Journal of Clinical Technology and Theory,3(3),38-40.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About this Volume

Volume Title: JCTT Vol.3

Part of Series: Journal of Clinical Technology and Theory

ISSN: 3049-5458 (Print) / 3049-5466 (Online)

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