The authors are grateful to Dr. Mathew Mazhavancheril, Director and Head of the Pushpagiri Research Centre in Thiruvalla, for his support in documenting the procedures at the Research Centre.

The protocol outlined herein conforms to the guidelines of the institutional human research ethics committee (IRB, Pushpagiri Research Center, Kerala). The use of extracted teeth was conducted following ethical standards to ensure the integrity, dignity, and rights of the participants. The participants selected for this study were healthy individuals under 30 years of age who required tooth extraction for orthodontic treatment. Those with extensive dental caries or severe periodontitis were excluded from the study. Deciduous teeth were collected from children who required the extraction of retained teeth. Informed written consent was also obtained from the subjects involved in this study.
1. Extraction and transport of teeth
<ol>
	<li>Collection of deciduous and permanent teeth
	<ol>
		<li>Explain to the participants the procedure&#39;s purpose and the potential use of the extracted teeth for research purposes.</li>
		<li>Perform teeth extraction under local anesthesia by administering an anesthetic agent in the vicinity of the tooth to be extracted. Specifically, 1.75 mL of lidocaine mixed with epinephrine (see Table of Materials) at a 1:200,000 ratio was injected for this study. Selecting teeth that do not exhibit severe dental caries or periodontitis is preferable20,21.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Transportation of the extracted teeth 
	NOTE: Working under aseptic conditions is recommended to avoid contamination. This includes wearing personal protective equipment, such as gloves and a lab coat, and working in a sterile environment, such as a biohazard laminar flow hood.
	<ol>
		<li>After the tooth is extracted, rinse it with sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution to remove the blood and other debris. Using sterile forceps and scalpel, carefully remove any attached soft tissue remnants from the tooth&#39;s surface (Figure 2A).</li>
		<li>Immerse the tooth in a disinfectant solution, such as 70% ethanol, for 10 s. After the disinfection, rinse the tooth with sterile PBS to wash away any residual disinfectant.</li>
		<li>Place the tooth in a sterile container containing the transport medium. 
		NOTE: The transport medium consisted of Alpha-MEM, a commercial culture medium supplemented with antibiotics: 100 U/mL penicillin/streptomycin (see Table of Materials). This medium supplied essential nutrients to the cells within the extracted tooth, ensuring their survival until laboratory processing. The antibiotics served to inhibit bacterial growth.</li>
		<li>Maintain a temperature of 4 &#176;C during transport to slow cellular metabolic activities and delay cell death. Transport the tooth to the laboratory for the next steps, including processing and isolating the dental pulp stem cells.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Collection of pulp tissue
<ol>
	<li>Secure the tooth using dental forceps to ensure it stays in place during the procedure. Use a diamond disc to cut the tooth in a dental handpiece (see Table of Materials) connected to a water coolant (Figure 2B). 
	NOTE: The goal is to expose the pulp chamber without causing unnecessary damage to the pulp tissue within.</li>
	<li>Employ a dental excavator (see Table of Materials) to remove the pulp tissue. This instrument enables the extraction of pulp without inflicting damage, thereby preserving the viability of the dental pulp stem cells (Figure 2C).</li>
	<li>Place the obtained tissue on a glass Petri dish. Wash the pulp tissue with phosphate-buffered saline.</li>
</ol>
3. Digestion of pulp tissue and cell isolation
<ol>
	<li>Tissue mincing and digestion
	<ol>
		<li>With a sterile surgical blade, carefully mince the pulp tissue into small fragments (Figure 2D) and place it in a mini tissue grinder with PBS to obtain a finely homogenized mixture. This process increases the surface area of the tissue, facilitating more efficient enzyme action during digestion.</li>
		<li>Transfer the minced homogenous tissue fragments into a 15 mL tube and enzymatically digest utilizing a mixture of 3 mg/mL collagenase type I and 4 mg/mL dispase (see Table of Materials). These enzymes were dissolved in Hank&#39;s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to achieve the desired concentrations.</li>
		<li>Incubate the pulp tissue in the enzyme mixture (step 3.1.2) for about 2 h at 37 &#176;C. After incubation, neutralize the enzymes, and collect the cells by centrifugation (step 3.2.1) for further culture.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Centrifugation and resuspension
	<ol>
		<li>After incubation, transfer the digested tissue to a 15 mL centrifuge tube and spin at 300 x g for 5 min at room temperature to pellet the cells. This step separates the cells from the remaining undigested tissue fragments and enzymes. Carefully discard the supernatant medium, ensuring not to disturb the cell pellet at the bottom of the tube.</li>
		<li>Resuspend the cell pellet in a fresh culture medium. This medium provides the necessary nutrients and environment for the isolated cells to survive and proliferate.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Cell culture
<ol>
	<li>Plating and incubation of cells
	<ol>
		<li>Carefully transfer the resuspended cells to a 25 cm&#178; culture flask. 
		NOTE: All material from a single pulp is transferred into a single 25 cm2 cell culture flask. A media volume of 5-7 mL ensures sufficient coverage and nutrient availability for the cells. Ensure that the culture medium for DPSCs is Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), supplemented with 10%-20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (see Table of Materials) to provide necessary growth factors. Further, supplement the medium with 1% penicillin/streptomycin to prevent bacterial contamination. Ensure the cells are evenly distributed throughout the flask to promote homogeneous growth.</li>
		<li>Incubate the flask at 37 &#176;C in an atmosphere containing 5% CO2.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Medium change and monitoring confluency
	<ol>
		<li>Change the culture medium every 2-3 days to provide fresh nutrients and remove metabolic waste. To do this, carefully aspirate the old medium using a sterile serological pipette and replace it with a fresh medium.</li>
		<li>Regularly monitor the cell culture under a microscope to track the cells&#39; growth and check for any signs of contamination.</li>
		<li>Continue this process until the cells reach 80%-90% confluency, the point at which the cells cover most of the flask surface area but are not overly crowded.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Cell trypsinization and passaging or freezing
	<ol>
		<li>Once the cells reach 80%-90% confluency, remove the culture medium and wash the cells with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to remove the residual medium and non-adherent cells.</li>
		<li>Add a solution of 0.25% trypsin-EDTA to the flask to detach the cells from the flask&#39;s surface. Incubate for 2-5 min at 37 &#176;C until the cells lift off.</li>
		<li>Neutralize the trypsin by adding an equal volume of culture medium, then gently pipette the cell suspension up and down to ensure complete cell detachment.</li>
		<li>Centrifuge the cell suspension at 300 x g for 5 min at room temperature to pellet the cells.</li>
		<li>Resuspend the cells in a fresh culture medium and either replate them (passage) for further growth or freeze them for future use. When freezing, use a freezing medium that contains a cryoprotectant, like DMSO, to protect the cells from damage during freezing.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
5. Characterization of DPSCs
<ol>
	<li>Flow cytometry analysis
	<ol>
		<li>To confirm the mesenchymal stem cell nature of the isolated cells, perform flow cytometry analysis22,23.Initially, trypsinize and collect cells as described in step 4.3.</li>
		<li>Determine the cell viability by the trypan dye exclusion technique. Perform the analysis using a cell viability analyzer (see Table of Materials) during the 2nd and 8th passages. Perform phenotypic analysis via a flow cytometer during the 3rd and 7th passages.</li>
		<li>After incubation, wash the cells in a flow cytometry buffer to remove excess antibodies and analyze the cells using a flow cytometer. 
		NOTE: The flow cytometry buffer is composed of phosphate-buffered saline (1x PBS), 1%-2% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 0.1% sodium azide (NaN3). The FBS or BSA blocks the non-specific binding of antibodies, while the sodium azide acts as a preservative. A high percentage of cells should express the mesenchymal stem cell markers and lack the hematopoietic markers, confirming their identity as DPSCs24.</li>
		<li>Detach the DPSCs and stain them with immunofluorescence antibodies for flow cytometry analysis. 
		NOTE: The selection of markers for flow cytometry analysis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is based on the consensus established by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT), which states that MSCs should express CD105, CD73, and CD90, and lack the expression of CD45, CD34, CD14 or CD11b, CD79a or CD19, and HLA class II25.&#160;These markers are commonly used in studies investigating dental pulp stem cells26.The concentrations of antibodies for staining can vary depending on the specific antibody used, and it is recommended to follow the manufacturer&#39;s instructions (see Table of Materials) for antibody dilutions and incubation conditions25.</li>
		<li>Establish the classification criteria27,28 for the expression of CD markers as mentioned: less than 10%, no expression; between 11% and 40%, low expression; a range of 41% to 70%, moderate expression; above 71%, high expression.</li>
		<li>Additionally, confirm the absence of hematopoietic markers by incubating a separate cell aliquot with antibodies against CD34 and CD45.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
6. Multilineage differentiation
NOTE: The following steps outline protocols for osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation of dental stem cells. Begin by seeding cultures at a density of 1 x 105 cells per well in a fibronectin-coated tissue culture plate with complete medium (CM). Monitor cell growth until 80%-90% confluency is achieved before initiating the desired differentiation protocol. To evaluate the DPSCs&#39; multilineage differentiation potential, initiate the differentiation process towards osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes by seeding cells into 24-well plates and culturing them in appropriate differentiation media.
<ol>
	<li>Osteogenic differentiation
	<ol>
		<li>Initiate by culturing DPSCs in a regular growth medium under standard conditions until they reach 70%-80% confluence.</li>
		<li>Remove the growth medium from the cells, then wash the cells once with 1x PBS. Add the Osteogenic Differentiation Medium (ODM) to the cells. 
		NOTE: The ODM consists of Alpha Minimum Essential Medium (&#945;-MEM) supplemented with 10% FBS, 100 units/mL penicillin, 100 &#181;g/mL streptomycin, 0.25 &#181;g/mL amphotericin B, 50 &#181;g/mL ascorbic acid, 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate, and 100 nM dexamethasone (see Table of Materials).</li>
		<li>Incubate the cells in the osteogenic medium at 37 &#176;C with 5% CO2. Change the osteogenic medium every 2-3 days. 
		NOTE: After 14 to 21 days, the DPSCs should have differentiated into osteoblast-like cells. This can be confirmed by checking for an increase in the expression of osteoblast-specific markers, such as alkaline phosphatase, or by using staining techniques to detect mineralized matrix, such as Alizarin Red S staining.</li>
		<li>Fix the cells by incubating them with 70% ice-cold ethanol for 1 h at -20 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>Stain the fixed cells with 40 nM Alizarin Red S (pH 4.2) staining solution at room temperature in the dark for 10-15 min. Visualize the staining under a microscope to confirm osteogenic differentiation (Figure 3). Confirm the differentiation by staining the cells with Alizarin Red S, which identifies calcium deposits indicative of mineralization29,30.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Adipogenic differentiation
	<ol>
		<li>As detailed in the earlier section, culture DPSCs under standard conditions in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2 at 37 &#176;C. Passage the cells when they reach around 70%-80% confluence.</li>
		<li>Aspirate the medium and wash the cells once with 1x PBS. Replace the washed-out medium with adipogenic differentiation medium. This medium generally consists of DMEM, 10% FBS, 10 &#181;g/mL insulin, 1 &#181;M dexamethasone, 200 &#181;M indomethacin, and 0.5 mM IBMX (see Table of Materials).</li>
		<li>Change the differentiation medium every 3-4 days. After about 3 weeks, wash the adipogenic-differentiated DPSCs with PBS and fix them with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) for 20 min at room temperature.</li>
		<li>Stain the fixed cells with Oil Red O (see Table of Materials) to visualize lipid droplet accumulation (Figure 4). To further confirm adipogenic differentiation, perform gene expression analysis of adipogenic markers such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR&#947;) and adiponectin31,32.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Chondrogenic differentiation
	<ol>
		<li>DPSCs cultures maintained in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2 at 37 &#176;C are used for Chondrogenic differentiation. Passage the cells when they reach around 70%-80% confluence.</li>
		<li>Aspirate the medium and wash the cells once with 1x PBS. Replace the washed-out medium with chondrogenic differentiation medium, which typically contains high glucose Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), 1% ITS, 100 nM dexamethasone, 50 &#181;g/mL ascorbate-2-phosphate, 40 &#181;g/mL proline, and 10 ng/mL Transforming Growth Factor-beta 3 (TGF-&#946;3) (see Table of Materials).</li>
		<li>Maintain the cells in the chondrogenic differentiation medium, changing the medium every 2-3 days. After about three weeks, the DPSCs should have differentiated into chondrocyte-like cells.</li>
		<li>Fix the cells by incubating them with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) for 20 min at room temperature. After fixation, stain the cells with Alcian Blue (see Table of Materials) and visualize them under a microscope to confirm chondrogenic differentiation (Figure 5).</li>
		<li>Confirm the differentiation of DPSCs into chondrocytes using techniques such as Alcian Blue staining for proteoglycans or gene expression analysis of chondrogenic markers like aggrecan, SOX9, and type II collagen33,34.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The protocol outlines the isolation, culture, and characterization of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from human deciduous and permanent teeth. It includes a description of the storage and proliferation of these cells, as well as the assessment of their in vitro differentiation potential into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes35.
Chen et al.36&#160;demonstrated that Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) could be ob...

Stem cell research has flourished in biomedical science due to its promising applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), derived from the pulp tissue of both human deciduous and permanent teeth, have attracted significant interest as a source of stem cells due to their ready availability and multipotent capacity1,2. These cells have the potential to differentiate into various cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes, as confirmed by numerous studies3.
Over the past few decades, research and therapeutic applications of stem cells have surged. The expansive potential of stem cells calls for diversifying the sources from which they are obtained. Several factors influence the efficiency, viability, and stemness of chosen cells. Despite the existence of various known stem cell reservoirs, such as bone marrow and adipose tissues, the invasive procedures, site morbidity, and ethical concerns linked to these sources often limit their exploration4,5. Among the various stem cell sources, dental stem cells have gained attention due to their easy accessibility, high plasticity, and diverse potential applications. Human dental pulp stem cells, in particular, have been extensively researched for their therapeutic prospects6. Teeth, commonly discarded as medical waste, hold a wealth of mesenchymal stem cells7. Safeguarding this valuable stem cell pool requires collective efforts from patients, dentists, and doctors to ensure that these resources are not wasted, making each dental pulp stem cell available for future regenerative requirements.
Dental pulp-derived stem cells, such as human adult dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and stem cells from exfoliated human deciduous teeth (SHED), are located in the perivascular niche of the dental pulp. These cells are believed to originate from cranial neural crest cells and exhibit early markers for both mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neuroectodermal stem cells. DPSCs and SHEDs have demonstrated multipotency and the ability to regenerate diverse tissue types8.
Potential sources of dental stem cells encompass healthy deciduous and permanent teeth. Stem cells constitute only about 1% of the total cell population in the pulp, highlighting the importance of effective isolation and expansion techniques9. Consequently, the extraction and expansion of these stem cells are pivotal steps in DPSC isolation10. Extracted or exfoliated teeth need to be stored in a nutrient-rich transport medium, such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Hanks-buffered saline solution (HBSS).
Obtaining dental pulp can be achieved through various methods, contingent on the tooth type7,11. For deciduous teeth with resorbed roots, extraction can be performed via the root apex. Similarly, sterile barbed broaches can be used to obtain pulp from permanent teeth with an immature open apex. In cases of permanent teeth with fully developed roots, accessing the pulp chamber involves separating the dental crown from the root. This is accomplished by cutting the tooth using a diamond disc at the cementoenamel junction. This incision exposes the pulp chamber, enabling retrieval of the pulp tissue12,13,14.
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) can be isolated through enzymatic digestion (ED) or outgrowth from tissue explants (OG), also known as spontaneous growth. The ED method employs enzymes, primarily collagenase I and dispase, to break down the tissue into single-cell suspensions15,16. The OG method, simpler and quicker, entails chopping the pulp fragments and directly placing them into a culture plate, allowing cells to grow from the tissue explants17. Researchers have utilized and compared both techniques to assess cell proliferation rates, preservation of isolated stem cell properties, differentiation, and surface marker expression18. Establishing and standardizing protocols for acquiring DPSCs with high efficiency and stemness can pave the way for effective and safe therapies19. This protocol encompasses extracting DPSCs using enzymatic digestion, lab processing, preservation, and cell differentiation with colorimetric staining for adipogenesis, osteogenesis, and chondrogenesis.
The protocol outlined in this article presents a step-by-step procedure, beginning with the initial isolation of dental pulp from the tooth, followed by culture and maintenance of DPSCs in the laboratory, and concluding with their characterization using specific stem cell markers (Figure 1). The techniques for inducing these stem cells into different cell lineages, highlighting their multipotency, are also described.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3-isobuty-l-methyl-xanthine&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>I5879</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic acid&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>AS001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alcian Blue&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>RM471</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alizarin Red S staining solution</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>GRM894</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alkaline phosphatase -Staining kit</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alpha Minimum Essential Medium (&#945;-MEM)&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alpha Minimum Essential Medium (&#945;-MEM)&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alpha-MEM, or Alpha Minimum Essential Medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alpha-MEM, or Alpha Minimum Essential Medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibiotic/Antimycotic</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>P4333</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ascorbate-2-phosphate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>012-04802</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Beta-glycerophosphate&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>G9422-10G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biosafety cabinet-Laminar flow hood</td>
			<td>Labconco Corporation,MO 64132-2696,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD90, CD105, CD73, CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR</td>
			<td>BioLegend, Inc.CA 92121,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell strainer (70 &#181;m )</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>TCP025</td>
			<td>Cell strainer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>REMI Elektrotechnik Limited (REMI)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>1101 | 1102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CO2 Incubator</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase type I</td>
			<td>Worthington Biochem. Corp. NJ 08701, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase type I</td>
			<td>Worthington Biochem. Corp. NJ 08701, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Complete Growth Medium</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>AT006</td>
			<td>DMEM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Conical tubes (15 or 50 )</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA, USA</td>
			<td>546021P/546041P</td>
			<td>15 mL and 50 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cryo freezing container</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td>15-350-50</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cryolabels</td>
			<td>Label India:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cryovial storage boxes&#160;</td>
			<td>Cryostore Storage Boxes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cryovials</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cryovials (1.8 mL)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td>PW1282</td>
			<td>Self standing</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture flask (25 cm&#178;)</td>
			<td>Corning Inc.NY 14831,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture flasks</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>TCG4/TCG6</td>
			<td>T25/T75</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture Plates</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>TCP129/TCP008</td>
			<td>60 mm/100 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dental Diamond Discs</td>
			<td>Komet SC 29730, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Komet&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dental Spoon Excavator</td>
			<td>Brasseler,GA 31419,USA</td>
			<td>5023591U0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dexamethasone</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>D4902-25MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dexamethosone</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>D4902-25MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dexamethosone</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>D4902-25MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>TC185</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dispase</td>
			<td>Roche Diagnostics,Mannheim,Germany.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dispase</td>
			<td>Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim,Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol (70%)</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>MB106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol -70%</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Extraction forceps&#160;</td>
			<td>Dentsply Sirona, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,MA,USA</td>
			<td>F2442-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,MA,USA</td>
			<td>F2442-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>RM9954</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,MA,USA</td>
			<td>F2442-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,MA,USA</td>
			<td>F2442-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fibronectin-coated tissue culture plate</td>
			<td>Corning Inc.Corning, NY 14831,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flow cytometer</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences,CA 95131,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flow cytometry buffer</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences,CA 95131,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass cover slip 22 x 22 mm</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>TCP017</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hank&#39;s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)</td>
			<td>Lonza Group Ltd,4002 Basel, Switzerland</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>High-speed dental handpiece&#160;</td>
			<td>NSK Ltd,Tokyo 8216, Japan</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Ti-Max Z series</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Horse Serum</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IBMX, or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Indomethacin</td>
			<td>Pfizer Inc. NY 10017,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td>I5523</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td>I5523</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS) premix</td>
			<td>Corning Incorporated,MA 01876,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Inverted microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus Corp.,Tokyo 163-0914,Japan</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isopropanol (60% )</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>I9516</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isopropyl alcohol&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>MB063</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laminar flow hood</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lidocaine mixed with epinephrine</td>
			<td>DENTSPLY,NC 28277,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Citanest</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Liquid Nitrogen</td>
			<td>Air Liquide,75007 Paris,France</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Liquid nitrogen storage tank</td>
			<td>Cryo Scientific Systems Pvt. Ltd.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micropipettes</td>
			<td>Eppendorf AG,22339 Hamburg,Germany</td>
			<td>30020</td>
			<td>Accupipet-2-20 &#181;L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mini tissue grinder</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad Lab, Inc. CA 94547,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>ReadyPrep mini grinders</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Minus 80 freezer</td>
			<td>Blue Star Limited</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neubauer counting chamber</td>
			<td>Marienfeld Superior,arktheidenfeld,Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oil red O stain</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>1024190250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Osteogenic Differentiation Medium (ODM)&#160;</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies Inc.Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1B3,Canada</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde (PFA)&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>TCL119</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco-Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate Buffered Solution (PBS) without Ca++ and Mg++</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>TS1101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific,MA, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA, USA</td>
			<td>P3813-1PAK</td>
			<td>1x PBS, pH 7.4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Proline&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel Blade Size 15&#160;</td>
			<td>Swann-Morton Ltd, Sheffield, S6 2BJ,UK</td>
			<td>BDF-6955C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Hypochlorite</td>
			<td>HiMedia Laboratories&#160; Ltd.Mumbai,India</td>
			<td>AS102</td>
			<td>4% w/v solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Tarsons Products Pvt. Ltd.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile container -20 mL</td>
			<td>3M Center, MN 55144-1000,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>3 M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich, USA</td>
			<td>P3813-1PAK</td>
			<td>1x PBS, pH 7.4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile pipettes (2, 5, and 10 mL )</td>
			<td>Eppendorf AG,22339 Hamburg,Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile pipettes and tips</td>
			<td>Eppendorf India Limited</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical Blade Handle</td>
			<td>Becton, Dickinson and Co.,NJ,USA</td>
			<td>371030</td>
			<td>BP Handle 3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transforming Growth Factor-beta 3 (TGF-&#946;3)</td>
			<td>R&#38;D Systems, Inc.MN 55413,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transforming Growth Factor-beta 3 (TGF-&#946;3)</td>
			<td>R&#38;D Systems, Inc.MN 55413,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan Blue 0.4%&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan Blue 0.4%&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>TCL046</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan Blue 0.4%&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Co. St. Louis, MO 63103.USA</td>
			<td>TCL046</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA&#160;</td>
			<td>Gibco-Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA 0.25%</td>
			<td>Gibco-Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water bath</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific ,MA 02451,USA</td>
			<td>BSW-01D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation, culture, and characterization of dental pulp stem cells from human deciduous and permanent teeth

In the realm of regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications, stem cell research is rapidly gaining traction. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), which are present in both deciduous and permanent teeth, have emerged as a vital stem cell source due to their accessibility, adaptability, and innate differentiation capabilities. DPSCs offer a readily available and abundant reservoir of mesenchymal stem cells, showcasing impressive versatility and potential, particularly for regenerative purposes. Despite their promise, the main hurdle lies in effectively isolating and characterizing DPSCs, given their representation as a minute fraction within dental pulp cells. Equally crucial is the proper preservation of this invaluable cellular resource. The two predominant methods for DPSC isolation are enzymatic digestion (ED) and outgrowth from tissue explants (OG), often referred to as spontaneous growth. This protocol concentrates primarily on the enzymatic digestion approach for DPSC isolation, intricately detailing the steps encompassing extraction, in-lab processing, and cell preservation. Beyond extraction and preservation, the protocol delves into the differentiation prowess of DPSCs. Specifically, it outlines the procedures employed to induce these stem cells to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes, showcasing their multipotent attributes. Subsequent utilization of colorimetric staining techniques facilitates accurate visualization and confirmation of successful differentiation, thereby validating the caliber and functionality of the isolated DPSCs. This comprehensive protocol functions as a blueprint encompassing the entire spectrum of dental pulp stem cell extraction, cultivation, preservation, and characterization. It underscores the substantial potential harbored by DPSCs, propelling forward stem cell exploration and holding promise for future regenerative and therapeutic breakthroughs.

The successful execution of the outlined protocol yielded dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) capable of multilineage differentiation, demonstrating their multipotency.
Viability assays 
The viability of the DPSCs was assessed using a Trypan Blue exclusion assay at various time points. The results show consistently high viability (greater than 95%) throughout the culture period, demonstrating the robustness of our isolation and culture protocol.
<st...

Read this Scientific Article Protocol about Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Dental Pulp Stem Cells from Human Deciduous and Permanent Teeth at JoVE.com

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Dental Pulp Stem Cells from Human Deciduous and Permanent Teeth

This protocol emphasizes the extraction, culture, and preservation of multipotent stem cells from dental pulp through enzymatic digestion. Additionally, it demonstrates their potential to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes, highlighting the importance of precision and consistency in the process.

In the realm of regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications, stem cell research is rapidly gaining traction. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), which ...

isolation-culture-characterization-dental-pulp-stem-cells-from-human

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

983 Views.  Hamad Medical Corporation. This protocol emphasizes the extraction, culture, and preservation of multipotent stem cells from dental pulp through enzymatic digestion. Additionally, it demonstrates their potential to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes, highlighting the importance of precision and consistency in the process.