Guidance for evaluating biomaterials' properties and biological potential for dental pulp tissue engineering and regeneration research

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore; ORCHIDS: Oral Care Health Innovations and Designs Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: vini@nus.edu.sg.
² Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, Division of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States. Electronic address: brunocav@umich.edu.
³ Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, Division of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States. Electronic address: jenor@umich.edu.
⁴ Department of Cariology and Restorative Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, TYKS, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: arztez@utu.fi.
⁵ Division of Dentistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Nikolaos.Silikas@manchester.ac.uk.
⁶ Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, Division of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States. Electronic address: mbottino@umich.edu.
⁷ Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Dentistry, Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: anil.kishen@dentistry.utoronto.ca.
⁸ Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, São Paulo University, Bauru, Brazil. Electronic address: dianasoares@fob.usp.br.
⁹ Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Biosciences, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, USA; Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, USA. Electronic address: mirandaf@ohsu.edu.
¹⁰ Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand. Electronic address: p.cooper@otago.ac.nz.
¹¹ Division of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: hduncan@tcd.ie.
¹² Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Biosciences, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, USA. Electronic address: ferracan@ohsu.edu.
¹³ Division of Dentistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: david.watts@manchester.ac.uk.

PMID: 39674710
PMCID: PMC11875114 (available on 2026-03-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2024.12.003

Review

Guidance for evaluating biomaterials' properties and biological potential for dental pulp tissue engineering and regeneration research

Vinicius Rosa et al. Dent Mater. 2025 Mar.

. 2025 Mar;41(3):248-264.

doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2024.12.003. Epub 2024 Dec 13.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore; ORCHIDS: Oral Care Health Innovations and Designs Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: vini@nus.edu.sg.
² Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, Division of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States. Electronic address: brunocav@umich.edu.
³ Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, Division of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States. Electronic address: jenor@umich.edu.
⁴ Department of Cariology and Restorative Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, TYKS, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: arztez@utu.fi.
⁵ Division of Dentistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Nikolaos.Silikas@manchester.ac.uk.
⁶ Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, Division of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States. Electronic address: mbottino@umich.edu.
⁷ Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Dentistry, Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: anil.kishen@dentistry.utoronto.ca.
⁸ Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, São Paulo University, Bauru, Brazil. Electronic address: dianasoares@fob.usp.br.
⁹ Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Biosciences, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, USA; Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, USA. Electronic address: mirandaf@ohsu.edu.
¹⁰ Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand. Electronic address: p.cooper@otago.ac.nz.
¹¹ Division of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: hduncan@tcd.ie.
¹² Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Biosciences, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, USA. Electronic address: ferracan@ohsu.edu.
¹³ Division of Dentistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: david.watts@manchester.ac.uk.

PMID: 39674710
PMCID: PMC11875114 (available on 2026-03-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2024.12.003

Abstract

Background: Dental pulp regeneration is a complex and advancing field that requires biomaterials capable of supporting the pulp's diverse functions, including immune defense, sensory perception, vascularization, and reparative dentinogenesis. Regeneration involves orchestrating the formation of soft connective tissues, neurons, blood vessels, and mineralized structures, necessitating materials with tailored biological and mechanical properties. Numerous biomaterials have entered clinical practice, while others are being developed for tissue engineering applications. The composition and a broad range of material properties, such as surface characteristics, degradation rate, and mechanical strength, significantly influence cellular behavior and tissue outcomes. This underscores the importance of employing robust evaluation methods and ensuring precise and comprehensive reporting of findings to advance research and clinical translation.

Aims: This article aims to present the biological foundations of dental pulp tissue engineering alongside potential testing methodologies and their advantages and limitations. It provides guidance for developing research protocols to evaluate the properties of biomaterials and their influences on cell and tissue behavior, supporting progress toward effective dental pulp regeneration strategies.

Keywords: Biological interactions; Biomaterials; Collagen; Dental pulp regeneration; Evaluation; Immune response; Material properties and cellular outcomes; Synthesis; Tissue engineering and regeneration; Vascularization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest This research received no funding and there is no conflict of interest.

References

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Guidance for evaluating biomaterials' properties and biological potential for dental pulp tissue engineering and regeneration research

Affiliations

Guidance for evaluating biomaterials' properties and biological potential for dental pulp tissue engineering and regeneration research

Authors

Affiliations

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Conflict of interest statement

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