Fabrication of Dentin-Pulp-Like Organoids Using Dental-Pulp Stem Cells

We developed a novel dentin-pulp-like organoid. It has both stem-cell and odontoblast characteristics using a mesenchymal cell lineage of human dental-pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). The mixture of hDPSCs and Matrigel was transferred into the maintenance medium (MM) and divided into four different groups according to how long they were maintained in the odontogenic differentiation medium (ODM). All organoids were harvested at 21 days and analyzed to find the optimal differentiation condition. To assess the re-fabrication of dentin-pulp-like organoid, after dissociation of the organoids, it was successfully regenerated. Additionally, its biological activity was confirmed by analyzing changes of relevant gene expression and performing a histology analysis after adding Biodentine(®) into the ODM. The organoid was cultured for 11 days in the ODM (ODM 11) had the most features of both stem cells and differentiated cells (odontoblasts) as confirmed by relevant gene expression and histology analyses. Micro-computed tomography and an electron microscope also showed mineralization and odontoblastic differentiation. Finally, ODM 11 demonstrated a biologically active response to Biodentine(®) treatment. In conclusion, for the first time, we report the fabrication of a dentin-pulp-like organoid using mesenchymal stem cells. This organoid has potential as a future therapeutic strategy for tooth regeneration.