In this study, researchers from King’s College London and Imperial College London recreated the early development of teeth in a laboratory setting, using their own synthetic hydrogels to mimic key features of the natural tooth matrix. The material enabled the cultured cells to interact and organize to form tooth organoids.
“Laboratory-grown teeth are able to regenerate naturally and integrate into the jawbone like real teeth,” said Xuechen Zhang, a PhD student at the School of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London, in a press release.
They are stronger, longer-lasting, and without the risk of rejection, providing a more durable and biocompatible solution than fillings or dental implants.”
According to Xuechen Zhang, while earlier tooth regeneration methods successfully formed structures similar to tooth germs, the biomaterials used lacked precise control and could not replicate the complex cell-cell interactions during natural tooth development.
However, this new material creates a more realistic environment that allows cells to gradually interact with each other, more closely simulating the development process of teeth in the body.
Having successfully determined the conditions required for tooth regeneration, the researchers are now working to translate their findings in the laboratory into clinical applications for patients.
To achieve this, they are exploring two main approaches: transplanting immature tooth cells directly to the site of a missing tooth, allowing them to grow naturally in the mouth, or growing a complete tooth in the lab and then implanting it in the patient’s mouth.
The research is part of a broader initiative in regenerative medicine, which aims to use the body’s biological processes to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs.
Rather than relying on artificial materials, scientists are developing natural alternatives by growing stem cells in carefully designed biological environments.
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