Controlled Release of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes from Hydrogels Attenuates Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a painful inflammatory condition that limits mouth opening. Cell-derived exosomes, which have anti-inflammatory effects, are emerging as a treatment for TMJOA. Injection of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), which secrete exosomes, can moderate tissue damage in a rat model of TMJOA. However, injected exosomes are quickly cleared, necessitating repeated injections for therapeutic efficacy. Here, vinyl sulfone-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-VS) hydrogels, suitable for encapsulating exosomes are formulated. HA-VS hydrogels degrade in the presence of hyaluronidase and allow for the release of beads of similar size to exosomes over 3 to 6 days. In a rat model of TMJOA, injection of exosomes or exosomes within HA-VS hydrogels significantly attenuated

SUBMITTER: Diez-Guardia V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12683231 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature