Designing and Optimizing Bioactive Bone Dressing for Tooth Socket Preservation and Regenerative Dentistry Application: In Vitro Study

Abstract

To address the challenge of preserving sufficient alveolar bone volume and quality following tooth extraction, this in vitro study  presents the design and optimization of a bioactive scaffold composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), alginate (Alg), and tricalcium phosphate (TCP). This composite aims to facilitate post extraction socket healing and promote osteogenesis. The scaffold was  fabricated using freeze-drying to achieve a porous, sponge-like structure. Sodium alginate and CMC were mixed at a 30:70 ratio, with TCP incorporated at 3% wt% and  crosslinked using a 0.5 M calcium chloride solution. The formulation was subjected to controlled freezing and lyophilization steps to enhance porosity and mechanical integrity.  Characterization studies confirmed a highly porous structure (79% porosity) with interconnected pores, as visualized by SEM. Mechanical testing revealed improved compressive strength  due to TCP incorporation, while FTIR and XRDanalyses confirmed polymer bonding and the presence of TCP, respectively. Degradation testing showed a slow initial breakdown followed by accelerated degradation, leading to complete scaffold resorption by day 28. Biological assays, including MTT, Alizarin Red staining, and ALP activity, demonstrated the scaffold’s excellent biocompatibility and ability to support cell proliferation, migration, and enhanced calcium deposition. These findings suggest that the scaffold has potential for promoting osteogenesis in vitro, warranting further investigation for its possible application in alveolar bone regeneration.