Effect of Local Injection of Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Alveolar Bone Regeneration in a Rat Model of Induced Periodontitis: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: A plethora of therapeutic interventions are available to treat periodontitis. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) therapy is among the treatment options currently under investigation. Regenerative potential of MSC can be attributed to its paracrine effect carried out by extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are nano- to micro-sized particles with great potential in tissue engineering due to their safety, ethical acceptability, and ease of use.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of local injection of 40μgs of ADSC-EVs on periodontal healing in rats with induced periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Twelve male Albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: Ligature Group (Lig-G) and EV-treated (EV-G). Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and extracellular vesicles were extracted and characterized. Sutures were secured at the gingival margin of rats’ mandibular molars for 2 weeks. Lig-G was left untreated while EV-G, received a single injection of 40μgs of EVs injected into the induced defect at the time of ligature removal. Rats in both groups were euthanized after 4 weeks of ligature removal for histological and histomorphometric analysis. Results: Histological analysis of LigG revealed signs of bone resorption as for EV-G, EV-treated specimens showed preserved alveolar bone architecture with minimal resorption. Histomorphometric analysis revealed significant increase in bone surface area (BSA) percentage in EV treated group (31.333 ± 11.16) compared to Lig-G (9.444 ± 3.04) as p <0.0001.Conclusion: Local injection of 40 μg ADSC-EVs significantly enhanced alveolar bone regeneration in periodontitis-induced defects, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for periodontal tissue engineering.