Osteogenic potential of dental stem cell-enhanced GTR membranes: A comparative in vitro study

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the osteogenic potential of dental stem cell sheets combined with different commercially available guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes. Methods: Dental stem cells were isolated from healthy teeth and characterized using Nanog, OCT4, Runx2, and Osteocalcin markers. Stem cell sheets were prepared and applied to four commercial GTR membranes. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed using RUNX2, OCN, ALP, COL1 expression and Alizarin Red staining. Results: Dental stem cell incorporation significantly enhanced osteogenic activity across all GTR membranes. Variation in regenerative performance was observed among stem cell populations. Among the membranes tested, Rapi-Gide® demonstrated superior support for osteogenic differentiation and mineralization. Conclusions: Combining dental stem cells with GTR membranes markedly improves periodontal bone regeneration. Appropriate selection of membrane scaffold and stem cell source is crucial for optimizing regenerative outcomes.