Study: Umbilical Cord Tissue Promotes Alveolar Bone Regeneration, Aiding Periodontal Therapy

Central News Agency, Taipei, June 1. The prevalence of adult periodontitis in Taiwan exceeds 80%. A research team composed of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and Taipei Veterans General Hospital has utilized 'decellularized umbilical cord tissue' in animal trials to promote alveolar bone regeneration and periodontal ligament repair, which will aid future regenerative treatments for periodontitis. NYCU stated in a press release today that periodontitis is a disease where bacteria invade deep periodontal tissues, leading to the decomposition of the periodontal ligament, deepening and widening of periodontal pockets, and loss of alveolar bone, ultimately resulting in tooth loss. With an adult prevalence rate of over 80%, treatment for moderate to severe periodontitis requires flap surgery combined with bone grafting and regenerative membranes. Professor Fu Yu-hsiu of the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology at NYCU, in collaboration with physicians Chen Cheng-feng (Orthopedics), Lo Wen-liang (Stomatology), and Yeh Chang-ching (Obstetrics and Gynecology) at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, prepared a decellularized Wharton's jelly matrix from human umbilical cord tissue and implanted it into the mandibular molars of rats with periodontitis. The results showed that without adding stem cells or using bone powder, the umbilical cord matrix product not only promoted bone regeneration but also helped repair the periodontal ligament. The team noted that a major challenge in periodontitis treatment is the need to simultaneously reconstruct the alveolar bone and the periodontal ligament to restore the supporting structure around the teeth. The highlight of this animal experiment is the ability to promote both repairs simultaneously, potentially breaking through the limitations of existing periodontal regenerative therapies. The research findings were published in the journal 'Biomaterials Science,' and the team has already obtained domestic patents and begun international patent deployment.