dexamethasone- loaded polymeric porous sponge as a direct pulp capping agent.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to achieve the principles of tissue engineering using biopolymers to be applied in the field of vital endodontic treatment to stimulate stem cells and engineering and regeneration of dentin tissue. the polymer blend was loaded with the steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, and the porous drug-loaded bio-sponge was produced by lyophilization. Bio-sponge, as a direct pulp capping agent, was histologically studied compared to calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 in an animal experiment.

RESULTS: The results indicated the effectiveness of the bio-sponge as a direct pulp agent, where the dentin bridge was formed faster than Ca(OH)2 treated samples. There was no inflammatory response in the pulp tissue throughout the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS: The porous bio-sponge loaded with dexamethasone with a neutral pH resulted in enhancement of the odontoblast differentiation from stem cells, resulting in the formation of a renewed dentin bridge without the slightest inflammatory response in the pulp.