Methods and compositions for culturing a biological tooth

US6899915B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• President and Fellows of Harvard College · US
• The General Hospital Corporation · US
• Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children · US

Inventors

• Pamela C. Yelick · Concord, US
• John Bartlett · Wollongong, AU
• Joseph P. Vacanti · Winchester, US
• Bjorn Olsen · Milton, US
• Phillip Stashenko · Medfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 29, 2001
• Grant date: May 31, 2005
• Expiry date: Nov 29, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61L27/3865
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Tooth tissues include the pulp mesenchyme that forms the dentin and an epithelium that is responsible for enamel formation. Cells from these tissues were obtained from porcine third molars and were seeded onto a biodegradable scaffold composed of a polyglycolic acid—polylactic acid copolymer. Cell polymer constructs were then surgically implanted into the omentum of athymic nude rats so that the constructs would have a blood supply and these tissues were allowed to develop inside the rats. Infrequently, columnar epithelial cells were observed as a single layer on the outside of the dentin-like matrix similar to the actual arrangement of ameloblasts over dentin during early tooth development. Developing tooth tissues derived from such cell polymer constructs could eventually be surgically implanted into the gum of an edentulous recipient where the construct would receive a blood supply and develop to maturity, providing the recipient with a biological tooth replacement.