Single phased silicate-containing calcium phosphate bioceramics: Promising biomaterials for periodontal repair

Tissue engineering using single-phased silicate containing calcium phosphate bioceramic scaffolds is a promising and highly effective approach for periodontal repair, which provide an appropriate mechanical properties, proper degradation and good manufacturability. Both in vitro, and post -surgery evaluations demonstrated that they have advanced capability to stimulate osteogenesis/cementogenesis. However, the complex mechanisms of their action have not yet been clarified. It is clear that Ca2+, PO43- and SiO44 release profile (from the scaffold) directly affect on the osteogenesis and cementogenesis. Each of these ions, alone or committed together, modulates pathways upregulation leading to cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, apatite formation/deposition, extracellular matrix formation and mineralization. Upregulating/downregulating a pathway may impress upregulation/downregulation of another pathway, and therefore provide a cyclic procedure which may affect both the release and absorption profiles of other ions. This review article aims to discuss how the ion releases could modulate signaling pathways' upregulation. Further, this paper will elaborate the importance of using specialized engineering methods to prevent misinterpreting of the in vitro and in vivo investigations.