Self-setting calcium polyphosphate coacervate composite for pulp capping treatment.

Summary

The authors designed an injectable, self-setting calcium polyphosphate coacervate composite (polyP-Ca-CS) whose setting is driven by acid neutralization via chitosan. In vitro it enhances ATP production, mitochondrial function, migration and odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs; in a rabbit pulp exposure model it induced reparative dentin and preserved pulp vitality comparable to commercial bioceramics.

Key Findings

• polyP-Ca-CS sets via an acid-neutralization mechanism initiated by chitosan, forming a rigid solid without exotherm or volume change.
• In vitro, polyP-Ca-CS increases ATP production, mitochondrial function, cell migration, and odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).
• In a rabbit pulp exposure model, polyP-Ca-CS induced reparative dentin formation and preserved pulp vitality comparable to commercial bioceramics.

Clinical Implications

This composite is a promising candidate for direct pulp capping and regenerative endodontics; if translated to clinical trials it could offer an alternative to current bioceramics with potential advantages in bioactivity and antibacterial properties.

Limitations

• No clinical human data—translation to patients and long-term outcomes remain untested.
• Details on sample sizes, quantitative histomorphometry and long-term biodegradation in vivo are not fully specified in the abstract.

Future Directions

Proceed to GLP-compliant larger animal studies and early-phase human clinical trials to evaluate safety, handling, long-term pulp vitality and dentin bridge quality; further quantify biodegradation and antibacterial efficacy in vivo.