OBJECTIVE

To develop electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes incorporating Hydroxyapatite/Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (HAp/MTA) loaded with Resolvin D2 (RvD2) and evaluate its anti-inflammatory potential.

METHOD

Electrospun membranes were fabricated by blending PCL with 10 wt.% HAp/10 wt.% MTA loaded with or without 0.1% RvD2 and were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and RvD2 release.

RESULTS

The field emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM) showed uniform nanofibers with an average fiber diameter ranging from 300 to 600 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of HAp and MTA in the PCL membranes. The drug release profile displayed a rapid release of RvD2 initially, followed by a sustained release. XTT assay demonstrated the cytocompatibility of the membranes towards the THP-1-derived M1 macrophages and human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) co-cultures activated with LPS. The FE-SEM studies proved the favorable cell adhesion behaviour although the membranes being hydrophobic. Cytokine levels in the culture supernatants retrieved from the co-culture treated membranes showed that, of all the membranes, RvD2 incorporated PCLHAp/MTA membranes demonstrated reduced IL-1β and TNF-α production.

CONCLUSIONS

RvD2 incorporated PCLHAp/MTA membranes demonstrated reduced IL-1β and TNF-α production asserting its anti-inflammotory potential.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This research highlights the immunomodulatory effect of RvD2-loaded PCLHAp/MTA electrospun membranes in reducing inflammation of the dental pulp. This novel method has the potential to transform the treatment of dental pulp inflammation resulting from caries or injury.