{"subject":"NYCU–TVGH Team Uses Decellularized Umbilical Cord Matrix to Regenerate Periodontal Tissue","dataClassName":"Research Highlights","pubUnitName":null,"posterDate":"2026-06-01","updateDate":null,"detailContent":"\r\n
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Researchers from NYCU and TVGH developed a regenerative therapy based on decellularized human umbilical cord tissue. In an animal model of periodontal disease, the biomaterial promoted simultaneous regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal ligament without the use of stem cells or conventional bone grafts, demonstrating its potential as a next-generation treatment for periodontal tissue repair.
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Edited by Chance Lai
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Periodontal disease affects more than 80% of adults in Taiwan and remains one of the leading causes of tooth loss worldwide. Once the tissues supporting the teeth are damaged, rebuilding them is notoriously difficult. Now, a collaborative research team from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) has demonstrated a promising new regenerative approach using decellularized human umbilical cord tissue.
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\r\nIn an animal study, the researchers successfully promoted both alveolar bone regeneration and periodontal ligament repair — two critical components required to restore the structures that anchor teeth in place. The findings were published in Biomaterials Science and selected as the journal’s cover story (Read more). The research has also received a Gold Medal at the Tokyo International Innovation and Invention Exhibition in Japan, highlighting growing international interest in regenerative medicine technologies. The team has secured a Taiwanese patent and is currently pursuing international patent protection.
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\r\nA decellularized Wharton’s jelly matrix derived from human umbilical cord tissue, developed as a biomaterial scaffold for periodontal tissue regeneration.
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\r\nA Persistent Challenge in Dental Medicine
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\r\nPeriodontal 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.
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\r\nFor 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.
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\r\n“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.”
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\r\nTurning Umbilical Cord Tissue into a Regenerative Scaffold
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\r\nThe 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.
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\r\nThe 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.
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\r\nThe 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.
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\r\nThe findings suggest that the umbilical cord-derived matrix itself may provide biological signals that guide tissue repair and regeneration.
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\r\nRegenerating Two Critical Structures at Once
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\r\nOne of the most significant findings of the study was the ability to regenerate both alveolar bone and periodontal ligament simultaneously.
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\r\nCurrent 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.
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\r\nResearchers believe the technology could eventually expand beyond periodontal disease treatment to address a broader range of bone and soft-tissue defects.
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\r\nExpanding the Potential of Regenerative Medicine
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\r\nProfessor 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.
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\r\nWhile 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.
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\r\nIf 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.
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\r\n\"TheThe 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.
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文/公關組 資訊圖/國際宣傳辦公室 
\r\n照片/研究團隊、趙之偉
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\r\n國內成人牙周病盛行率超過八成，牙周組織再生並不容易。不過，由陽明交大與臺北榮總組成的榮陽交研究團隊，近日在動物試驗中利用「去細胞化臍帶組織」，成功促進齒槽骨新生與牙周韌帶修復，為未來牙周病再生治療帶來振奮消息。
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\r\n牙周病是細菌侵入到深層牙周組織，導致牙周韌帶被分解，牙周囊袋加深變寬，齒槽骨流失，最終造成牙齒脫落的疾病。中重度牙周病治療需要透過翻瓣手術，搭配骨粉及再生膜來補救齒槽骨。
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\r\n由解剖學及細胞生物學研究所傅毓秀教授，結合臺北榮總骨科部陳正豐醫師、口腔醫學部羅文良醫師、婦女醫學部葉長青醫師，利用人類臍帶組織製備了去細胞化的瓦頓氏凝膠(Wharton’s jelly)基質，並植入患有牙周病大白鼠的下顎臼齒。研究顯示在不額外加入幹細胞、也不使用骨粉的情況下，該臍帶基質製品不僅能促進骨質的新生，也有助於牙周韌帶的修復。
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\r\n牙周病治療的一大挑戰，在於必須同時重建齒槽骨與牙周韌帶，才能真正恢復牙齒周圍的支持結構。這項動物實驗的成果亮點在於，能同時促進齒槽骨與韌帶修復，將有機會突破現有牙周再生治療的限制。
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\r\n這項刊登於《生物材料科學期刊》(Biomaterials Science)、並推選為該當期封面故事的研究，也在近日獲得日本東京創新天才國際發明展金牌，顯見各界對再生醫學的期望與重視。目前團隊已取得國內專利，並展開國際專利佈局。
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\r\n從過去應用於肺纖維化的臍帶間質幹細胞研究，到如今以去細胞臍帶基質挑戰牙周病再生治療。傅毓秀團隊展現了臍帶組織於再生醫學上的多元潛力。未來若能進一步完成安全性、有效性與臨床試驗驗證，其研究成果對骨缺損與牙周病患者都是一大福音。

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