Biomimetic strategies like peptide-guided collagen mineralization promise to enhance the effectiveness of dentin remineralization. We recently reported that rationally designed amelogenin-derived peptides P26 and P32 promoted apatite nucleation, mineralized collagen, and showed potential in enamel regrowth and dentin remineralization. To facilitate the clinical application of amelogenin-derived peptides and to uncover their effectiveness in repairing dentin, we have now implemented a chitosan (CS) hydrogel for peptide delivery and have investigated the effects of P26-CS and P32-CS hydrogels on dentin remineralization using 2 in situ experimental models that exhibited different levels of demineralization. The efficacy of the peptide-CS hydrogels in dentin repair was evaluated by characterizing the microstructure, mineral density, mineral phase, and nanomechanical properties of the remineralized samples. The new strategy of atomic force microscopy PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping was used for direct visualization and nanomechanical analysis of repaired dentin lesions across the lesion depth. Results from the 2 models indicated the potential triple functions of peptide-CS hydrogels for dentin repair: building a highly organized protective mineralized layer on dentin, occluding dentinal tubules by peptide-guided in situ mineralization, and promoting biomimetic dentinal collagen remineralization. Importantly, peptides released from the CS hydrogel could diffuse into the dentinal matrix and penetrate the dentinal tubules, leading to both surface and subsurface remineralization and tubule occlusion. Given our previous findings on peptide-CS hydrogels' potential for remineralizing enamel, we see further promise for hydrogels to treat tooth defects involving multiple hard tissues, as in the case of noncarious cervical lesions.

中文翻译：

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牙釉蛋白肽-壳聚糖水凝胶修复牙本质的三重功能。

肽引导胶原蛋白矿化等仿生策略有望增强牙本质再矿化的有效性。我们最近报道，合理设计的牙釉蛋白衍生肽 P26 和 P32 促进磷灰石成核、矿化胶原蛋白，并在牙釉质再生和牙本质再矿化方面显示出潜力。为了促进牙釉蛋白衍生肽的临床应用并揭示其修复牙本质的有效性，我们现在采用壳聚糖（CS）水凝胶进行肽递送，并使用 P26-CS 和 P32-CS 水凝胶研究了 P26-CS 和 P32-CS 水凝胶对牙本质再矿化的影响2 个原位实验模型表现出不同程度的脱矿质。通过表征再矿化样品的微观结构、矿物质密度、矿物质相和纳米力学特性来评估肽-CS 水凝胶在牙本质修复中的功效。原子力显微镜 PeakForce 定量纳米力学绘图的新策略用于对整个病变深度的修复牙本质病变进行直接可视化和纳米力学分析。两个模型的结果表明肽-CS水凝胶在牙本质修复方面具有潜在的三重功能：在牙本质上构建高度组织化的保护性矿化层，通过肽引导的原位矿化来闭塞牙本质小管，以及促进仿生牙本质胶原蛋白再矿化。重要的是，从 CS 水凝胶释放的肽可以扩散到牙本质基质中并穿透牙本质小管，导致表面和表面下的再矿化和牙本质小管闭塞。鉴于我们之前关于肽-CS水凝胶使牙釉质再矿化的潜力的发现，我们看到水凝胶在治疗涉及多个硬组织的牙齿缺陷（如非龋性宫颈病变）方面有进一步的前景。