Hydrogel: A Potential Material for Bone Tissue Engineering Repairing the Segmental Mandibular Defect

Abstract

Free flap surgery is currently the only successful method used by surgeons to reconstruct critical-sized defects of the jaw, and is commonly used in patients who have had bony lesions excised due to oral cancer, trauma, infection or necrosis. However, donor site morbidity remains a significant flaw of this strategy. Various biomaterials have been under investigation in search of a suitable alternative for segmental mandibular defect reconstruction. Hydrogels are group of biomaterials that have shown their potential in various tissue engineering applications, including bone regeneration, both through in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical animal trials. This review discusses different types of hydrogels, their fabrication techniques, 3D printing, their potential for bone regeneration, outcomes, and the limitations of various hydrogels in preclinical models for bone tissue engineering. This review also proposes a modified technique utilizing the potential of hydrogels combined with scaffolds and cells for efficient reconstruction of mandibular segmental defects.

Predictability and Effectiveness of Jaws Reconstructive Prosthesis after Tumor Removal: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Accordingly, the study of Yang et al compared conventional surgical plates, and 3d-printed patient-specific plates reduce the distance and imprecision in terms of the distance and angulation of the reconstruction [36]. This is the first study to compare the accuracy of outcomes for head and neck reconstruction using 3d-printed patient-specific versus traditional surgical plates [37].…”

Hydrogels for Oral Tissue Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities

“…However, mandibular repair is a particularly challenging clinical situation due to several factors, including a microbial-rich environment, lack of soft tissue coverage, ongoing adjuvant radiotherapy requirements, complex geometry, specific anatomy (teeth), high stress axial, and non-axial (cantilever) loading. Mandibular lesions associated with oral cancer are typically 6 to 10 cm in length and may take several months to produce bone, making the mid-term and long-term mechanical properties of the scaffold critical for significant proportions of bone defects [142]. The aim of oromandibular reconstruction is to restore both function and shape.…”

Preparation and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Sodium Alginate Composite Hydrogel Scaffolds Carrying Chlorhexidine and Strontium-Doped Hydroxyapatite

“…Hydrogels are highly hydrophilic polymers that form an interconnected three-dimensional (3D) porous network through cross-linking and have found extensive application in biomedical fields because of their exceptional biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, and drug-delivery capabilities. , Recent advancements in hydrogel technology have shown promising results in enhancing cellular bioactivity and achieving effective antimicrobial outcomes, thereby opening new therapeutic possibilities for treating jaw defects . Chitosan-based hydrogels, in particular, have garnered significant attention in biomedical research, especially for drug delivery applications because of their excellent biocompatibility, cell adhesion properties, biodegradability, antimicrobial efficacy, and stability. − Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) is a derivative of chitosan, obtained through carboxymethylation.…”