{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T12:02:39Z","timestamp":1788955359720,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,26]],"date-time":"2021-04-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1619395200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Material research in tissue engineering forms a vital link between basic cell research and animal research. Periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs, P) from the tooth have an osteogenic effect, whereas endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs, E) assist in neovascularization. In the present study, the interaction of PDLCs and EPCs with Tantalum (Ta, I) discs, either alone (IP or IE group) or in 1:1 (IPE) ratio was explored. Additionally, surface analysis of Ta discs with respect to different types and cycles of sterilization and disinfection procedures was evaluated. It was observed that Ta discs could be used for a maximum of three times, after which the changes in properties of Ta discs were detrimental to cell growth, irrespective of the type of the protocol. Cell-Disc\u2019s analysis revealed that cell proliferation in the IE group at day 6 and day 10 was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) than other groups. A cell viability assay revealed increased live cells in the IPE group than in the IP or IE group. Similarly, adhesion and penetration of cells in the IPE group were not only higher, but also had an increased thickness of cellular extensions. RT-PCR analysis revealed that on day 8, both osteogenic (ALP, RUNX-2, and BSP) and angiogenic genes (VEGFR-2, CD31) increased significantly in the IPE group as compared to the IP or IE groups (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, Ta discs promoted cellular proliferation and increased osteogenic and angiogenic activity by augmenting RUNX-2 and VEGFR-2 activity.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22094486","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,26]],"date-time":"2021-04-26T22:21:57Z","timestamp":1619475717000},"page":"4486","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["PDLCs and EPCs Co-Cultured on Ta Discs: A Golden Fleece for \u201cCompromised\u201d Osseointegration"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4125-9946","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hitesh","family":"Chopra","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China"},{"name":"College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E4, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6006-9825","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yuanyuan","family":"Han","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Applied Oral Sciences and Community Dental Care, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6016-9436","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cheng F.","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2640-8437","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edmond H. N.","family":"Pow","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Lanza, R., Langer, R., and Vacanti, J.P. (2011). Principles of Tissue Engineering, Academic Press."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"421","article-title":"Stem cells-the hidden treasure: A strategic review","volume":"10","author":"Chopra","year":"2013","journal-title":"Dent. Res. 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