Effect of miR-146a/bFGF/PEG-PEI Nanoparticles on Inflammation Response and Tissue Regeneration of Human Dental Pulp Cells

Figure 4

Effect of miR-146a/bFGF/PEG-PEI alginate hydrogel on the odontogenic differentiation of DPCs with LPS treatment. ((a1)–(b3)) Western blot showed that the protein expression of DMP-1 and DSP was significantly downregulated in DPCs with LPS treatment after 7 d and 14 d LPS treatment compared with control group (). After 7 d of odontogenic induction, both DMP-1 and DSP did not show any significant difference in miR-146a gel and bFGF gel group ((a1)–(a3), ), albeit dramatically upregulated in miR-146a/bFGF gel group ((a1)–(a3), ). After 14 d of odontogenic induction, DMP-1 expression was significantly downregulated in miR-146a gel group () and upregulated in miR-146a/bFGF gel group (), albeit showing no significant difference in bFGF gel group ((b1)-(b2), ), whereas DSP did not show any significant difference in miR-146a gel and bFGF gel group and miR-146a/bFGF gel group ((b1) and (b3), ). ((c1)–(d5)) Alizarin red staining revealed that, after 14 d of odontogenic induction, numerous mineralization deposits were seen in all groups. The number of mineral nodules was downregulated in LPS group ((c2) and (d2)) compared with control group ((c1) and (d1)). The number of mineral nodules showed no difference between the miR-146a gel ((c3) and (d3)), bFGF gel ((c4) and (d4)), and control group ((c1) and (d1)), albeit the number and average size of mineral nodules were upregulated in miR-146a/bFGF gel group ((c5) and (d5)). ((c1)–(c5)) The gross view of the samples with Alizarin red staining. ((d1)–(d5)) The figures of the samples with Alizarin red staining observed under inverted microscope (×100). ((c1) and (d1)) Control group, ((c2) and (d2)) LPS treated group, ((c3) and (d3)) miR-146a gel group, ((c4) and (d4)) bFGF gel group, and ((c5) and (d5)) miR-146a/bFGF gel group.