Proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and human dental pulp cells co-cultured in hydrogel

[Display omitted] •Scaffold materials play an important role in regenerative medicine research.•Hydrogel scaffolds supported the hUCMSCs and hDPCs growth and proliferation.•3D co-culture systemexhibitedmore proliferative potentialthan cell-monoculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in three-dimensional co-culture system which was established with the help of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and hydrogel. hDPCs and hUCMSCs were cultured in different concentrations of hydrogel to explore the more suitable concentrations for subsequent experiments. hUCMSCs and hDPCs induced by BMP-2 were co-cultured in the hydrogel. MTT assay was used to measure the cell viability. The differentiation into odontoblast-like cells were measured by the mRNA expression of dentin salivary phosphoprotein (DSPP), dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1), alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin. Alizarin red staining was performed for the formation of mineralized nodules. hUCMSCs and hDPCs could grow and proliferate in hydrogel scaffold. The growth rate of cells in lower concentrations hydrogels were higher than that of high concentrations hydrogels (P