Effect of PCL/nHAEA nanocomposite to osteo/odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells

PURPOSE: The green synthesis of nanoparticles has recently opened up a new route in material production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) synthesized from Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA) extract in polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers (PCL/nHAEA) to odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and their potential applications for dentin tissue engineering. METHODS: Green synthesis of nHA via EA extract (nHAEA) was done by the sol–gel technique. Then electrospun nanocomposites containing of PCL blended with nHA (P/nHA) and nHAEA (P/nHAEA) were fabricated, and the characterization was evaluated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the contact angle. The morphology of nanofibers and the cell adhesion capacity of DPSCs on nanofibers were evaluated using SEM. Cytocompatibility was assessed by MTT. Osteo/odontogenic differentiation ability of the nanocomposites were assessed using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red S (ARS) staining, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. RESULTS: Viability and adhesion capacity of DPSCs were higher on P/nHAEA nanofibers than PCL and P/nHA nanofibers. ARS assay, ALP activity, and qPCR analysis findings confirmed that the nHAEA blended nanofibrous scaffolds substantially increased osteo/odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs. CONCLUSION: PCL/nHAEA nanocomposites had a noticeable effect on the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs and may help to improve cell-based dentin regeneration therapies in the future. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-022-02527-1.