# The Biofunctional Monomer, the Calcium Salt of 4-Methacryloxyethyl Trimellitic Acid, Promotes Odontoblast Differentiation in Three-Dimensional Culture System

## TL;DR

A biofunctional monomer called CMET helps odontoblast-like cells grow, differentiate, and form minerals in a 3D collagen system, showing promise for dentin regeneration.

## Contribution

This study shows that CMET promotes odontoblast differentiation and mineralization in a 3D collagen system without cytotoxicity.

## Key findings

- CMET at 0.3% concentration enhances cell adhesion, proliferation, and ALP activity in 3D culture.
- CMET increases mineral nodule formation and upregulates odontogenic markers like DSPP and DSP-1.
- The p38 MAPK pathway is involved in CMET-induced ALP activity and mineralization.

## Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of the biofunctional monomer CMET on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MDPC-23, odontoblast-like cells in a three-dimensional (3D) culture system using type I collagen. CMET (0.3%, w/v) facilitated the early adhesion and spreading of the cells in type I collagen gels. It significantly promoted cell proliferation in 0.2% and 0.3% concentrations. ALP activity also increased in the 0.3% CMET group. The 0.3% CMET group markedly enhanced odontogenic differentiation by upregulating mRNA of odontogenic differentiation markers such as DSPP and DSP-1. Mineral nodule formation in MDPC-23 cells grown in the 0.3% CMET group was markedly increased compared to that in the control group. After treating the cells with the three MAPK inhibitors, the ability of CMET to stimulate ALP activity in MDPC-23 cells was totally suppressed to control levels by the p38 inhibitor, SB202190. The enhancement of mineralization of MDPC-23 by CMET was partially impeded by SB202190. The results demonstrated that the biofunctional monomer CMET induced proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of odontoblast-like cells in a 3D culture system using type I collagen gel at a concentration of 0.3%. Thus, combining CMET and type I collagen gel as a scaffold does not exhibit apparent cytotoxicity and is suggested to have immense potential for dentin regeneration.