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Vital Pulp Therapy

Mechanism-informed strategies to preserve pulp vitality and promote repair.

Overview

We investigate how inflammation, neural signalling and tissue repair interact in pulpitis. By combining mechanistic studies with bioactive materials and point-of-care diagnostic approaches, we aim to improve patient selection and develop more predictable vital pulp therapy strategies.
 

Research Focus

  • Neuroimmune crosstalk in pulpitis and pulpal pain

  • Bioactive compounds and materials for dentine–pulp repair

  • Point-of-care biosensing for inflammation-informed case selection
     

Featured Research

Punicalagin Enhances Odontogenic Differentiation and Reparative Dentin Formation via Wnt/β-Catenin Signalling
Yang, Yumeng, Xin Li, Qianwen Tang, Chengfei Zhang, Zehao Chen, and Wei Liu. International Dental Journal, 2026.

This study investigated whether punicalagin, a naturally derived polyphenol, can support dentine–pulp repair. In an experimental pulpitis model, a punicalagin-loaded collagen sponge reduced inflammatory infiltration and promoted reparative dentin formation. In dental pulp stem cells, punicalagin enhanced odontogenic differentiation through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. The findings provide mechanistic support for exploring bioactive, biologically informed strategies for vital pulp therapy.
 

Selected Publications

01 / 02
Punicalagin (PCG) enhances reparative dentin formation in rat pulp tissue. A, Representative haematoxylin and eosin staining of rat pulp tissue following pulp capping with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS + collagen sponge, LPS + PCG-loaded collagen sponge, and iRoot BP Plus. Insets in the lower region are magnified images of the rectangles. B, Representative Masson’s trichrome staining. The blue-stained areas represent the distribution of collagen fibres (CFs). C, Semiquantitative analysis of pulpal inflammatory response based on histologic inflammation scores. D, Histomorphometric quantification of reparative dentin thickness. Yellow asterisks indicate inflammatory infiltration. RD, reparative dentin. Scale bars: 200 μm (10×) and 100 μm (20×). Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 4 per group). **P < .01, ****P < .0001.
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