OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shuanghuangbu on the adhesion growth and proliferation of human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs) on the zein scaffold, and to study the feasibility of Shuanghuangbu zein used in the periodontal tissue engineering as a compound scaffold material.

METHODSHPDLCs were cultured in vitro using the explants adherent method. Shuanghuangbu Decoction was prepared using water extraction and alcohol precipitation method. Zein scaffold was prepared using solvent casting/corpuscle leaching method, which was dispensed into Shuanghuangbu culture fluid at the concentration of 50, 100, 150, 200, 500, 1000 microg/mL, respectively. Shuanghuangbu of different concentrations groups, the zein scaffold leaching liquid group, and the cell control group were also set up. The effect of each group on the proliferation of HPDLCs was detected by MTT. According to results of MTT, the best concentration of Shuanghuangbu (100 microg/mL) was selected as the experiment group. Ten percent FBS of DMEM culture fluid was taken as the control group. The effect of Shuanghuangbu on the morphology of HPDLCs on the zein scaffold was observed using inverted phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the zein scaffold leaching liquid group and the cell control group, the proliferation of HPDLCs could be promoted by different concentrations of Shuanghuangbu culture fluid, with the most obvious effect shown by Shuanghuangbu at 100 microg/mL (P<0.01). There was no obvious difference between the zein scaffold leaching liquid group and the cell control group (P>0.05), but their cell proliferation rates were positive values. The morphological results demonstrated that HPDLCs successfully grew on the zein scaffold. The number of HPDLCs under the action of Shuanghuangbu was more and the morphous was better.

CONCLUSIONSShuanghuangbu could promote the adhesion growth and proliferation of HPDLCs on the zein scaffold. Shuang- huangbu zein was feasible to be used in the periodontal tissue engineering as a compound scaffold materia.