A decellularized Wharton’s jelly matrix derived from human umbilical cord tissue, developed as a biomaterial scaffold for periodontal tissue regeneration.

A Persistent Challenge in Dental Medicine

Periodontal disease develops when bacterial infection spreads into deeper tissues surrounding the teeth. Over time, the periodontal ligament deteriorates, periodontal pockets deepen, and alveolar bone is progressively lost. Without treatment, the condition can eventually lead to tooth loss.

For patients with moderate-to-severe disease, treatment often requires flap surgery combined with bone graft materials and barrier membranes to help rebuild lost bone. However, achieving true periodontal regeneration remains challenging because successful treatment requires the simultaneous reconstruction of both alveolar bone and periodontal ligament.

“Restoring only the bone is not enough,” researchers noted. “The ligament that connects the tooth to the surrounding bone must also regenerate if functional support is to be recovered.”

Turning Umbilical Cord Tissue into a Regenerative Scaffold

The study was led by Professor Yu-Show Fu of NYCU’s Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology in collaboration with Dr. Cheng-Fong Chen of the Department of Orthopedics, Dr. Wen-Liang Lo of the Department of Stomatology, and Dr. Chang-Ching Yeh of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at TVGH.

The researchers developed a biomaterial derived from decellularized Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous connective tissue found within the human umbilical cord. By removing living cells while preserving the extracellular matrix structure, the team created a natural scaffold capable of supporting tissue regeneration.

The material was implanted into periodontal defects surrounding mandibular molars in rats with periodontal disease. Remarkably, the treatment stimulated new bone formation and promoted repair of the periodontal ligament without the addition of stem cells or conventional bone graft materials.

The findings suggest that the umbilical cord-derived matrix itself may provide biological signals that guide tissue repair and regeneration.

Regenerating Two Critical Structures at Once

One of the most significant findings of the study was the ability to regenerate both alveolar bone and periodontal ligament simultaneously.

Current regenerative treatments often struggle to restore the complex architecture surrounding teeth, as different tissue types must heal in a coordinated manner. The NYCU-TVGH team’s approach appears capable of supporting this process, potentially overcoming a major limitation of existing therapies.

Researchers believe the technology could eventually expand beyond periodontal disease treatment to address a broader range of bone and soft-tissue defects.

Expanding the Potential of Regenerative Medicine

Professor Fu’s research group has long explored the therapeutic potential of umbilical cord-derived biomaterials. Previous studies have investigated the use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to treat pulmonary fibrosis. The latest work shifts the focus toward cell-free regenerative medicine, demonstrating how decellularized umbilical cord matrices can be harnessed to stimulate tissue repair.

While further studies are needed to establish safety, efficacy, and clinical feasibility in humans, the researchers believe the technology represents a promising step toward next-generation regenerative therapies.

If future clinical trials confirm these results, the approach could provide a new treatment option for millions of patients affected by periodontal disease and other conditions involving bone loss and tissue degeneration.

The research team poses for a group photo with Shuu-Jiun Wang  (right), Dean of the NYCU College of Medicine. From left: Dr. Cheng-Fong Chen, Dr. Wen-Liang Lo, graduate student Yu-Heng Cheng, Professor Yu-Show Fu, and Dr. Chang-Ching Yeh.