A Combinatorial Approach to Regenerate the Periodontal Ligament and Cementum in a Nondental Microenvironment

Figure 4

SEM examination showed the morphology of HERS cells and DFCs growing on TDM. (a) HERS cells grew in layers with a pebble-like morphology on the surface of TDM, and tight intercellular connections and abundant extracellular matrix could be seen; (b) HERS cells + DFCs: DFCs grew densely, spread over the surface of TDM in a membrane-like manner and arranged in bundles. There were fiber bundle-like synapses between the DFCs, while HERS cells were not visible underneath. Numerous mineralized nodules on the surface could be found (indicated by green arrows); (c) DFCs arranged into bundles and covered the surface of TDM in a membrane-like manner; a small amount of mineralized nodules were found on the surface (indicated by green arrows). The red frame indicated the areas for zooming in (a), (b), and (c).