Doxycycline-Loaded Nitric Oxide-Releasing Nanomatrix Gel in Replanted Rat Molar on Pulp Regeneration

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of doxycycline-loaded NO-releasing nanomatrix gel on pulp regeneration in replantation of avulsed rat teeth. A total of 28 maxillary first molars extracted from rats were replanted. The rats were divided into two groups based on the use of root surface treatment: doxycycline-loaded NO-releasing nanomatrix group and no treatment. Eight weeks after replantation, the rats were sacrificed, and the teeth were evaluated using histomorphometric analysis. On histomorphometric analysis, the NO-releasing nanomatrix group demonstrated a significantly lower grade of pulp inflammation (1.00 +/- 1.11, mean +/- standard deviation) compared to the no treatment group (2.21 +/- 1.25, p = 0.014). NO-releasing nanomatrix group showed a significantly higher grade of pulp regeneration (2.57 +/- 0.85, p = 0.012) and significantly lower grade of pulp inflammation (1.00 +/- 0.68, p = 0.025) compared to the no treatment group. In conclusion, NO-releasing nanomatrix gel improved pulp regeneration of replanted teeth, though the sample size of this study was rather small. Within the limits of this study, NO-releasing nanomatrix gel can provide more favorable pulpal regeneration despite replantation.