A bioreactor-based platform for investigating the early response of human periodontal ligament stem cells to intermittent mechanical stretching.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

During development and daily activities, biological tissues are frequently exposed to mechanical stimuli, which are crucial for tissue maintenance and regeneration. The periodontal ligament (PDL), which connects the tooth root to the alveolar bone of the jaw, is among the tissues most exposed to mechanical loading and has recently received increasing attention due to the rising prevalence of periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to the progressive destruction of tooth-supporting structures. Understanding the mechanobiology of PDL could be essential for guiding effective regenerative strategies. To address this, a bioreactor-based platform for applying controlled stretch stimulation to adherent cells was developed, and the early biological response of human primary PDL stem cells (hPDLSCs) to different intermittent stretching protocols was investigated. Furthermore, to correlate the mechanical stimulus applied to the cells with their biological response, a detailed characterization of the substrate deformation was performed. The platform integrates an existing stretch bioreactor, updated to enable automated alternation of constant and dynamic stretching conditions without user intervention, with a custom-designed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) deformable substrate, whose geometry was optimized for ensuring the most uniform strain distribution. The mechanical beha

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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