Hydrogels for Oral Tissue Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Oral health is crucial to daily life, yet many people worldwide suffer from oral diseases. With the development of oral tissue engineering, there is a growing demand for dental biomaterials. Addressing oral diseases often requires a two-fold approach: fighting bacterial infections and promoting tissue growth. Hydrogels are promising tissue engineering biomaterials that show great potential for oral tissue regeneration and drug delivery. In this review, we present a classification of hydrogels commonly used in dental research, including natural and synthetic hydrogels. Furthermore, recent applications of these hydrogels in endodontic restorations, periodontal tissues, mandibular and oral soft tissue restorations, and related clinical studies are also discussed, including various antimicrobial and tissue growth promotion strategies used in the dental applications of hydrogels. While hydrogels have been increasingly studied in oral tissue engineering, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed for satisfactory clinical outcomes. This paper summarizes the current issues in the abovementioned application areas and discusses possible future developments.

Dental pulp regeneration strategies: A review of status quo and recent advances

“…Additionally, it upregulated the expression of genes related to pulp regeneration [ 84 ]. In addition, polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been widely used in biology because of its non-immunogenic, non-toxic, biodegradable, and highly hydrophilic properties [ 85 ]. Han et al engineered an injectable PLGA/PEG hydrogel, which, through controlled release of VEGF and DPSCs-exo, promptly triggered angiogenesis and maintained osteogenesis, closely resembling the natural bone formation process.…”

Enhancing Dental Material Performance: Tung Oil-Infused Polyurea Microcapsule Coatings for Self-Healing and Antimicrobial Applications

“…Intrinsic self-healing advancements aim to synthesize polymers that can effectively self-heal in the moist and chemically diverse oral environment. Extrinsic healing advancements concentrate on microencapsulation technologies that can withstand the unique challenges posed by oral applications, such as resistance to saliva and the mechanical forces of chewing [17].…”

Unraveling the New Perspectives on Antimicrobial Hydrogels: State-of-the-Art and Translational Applications

“…Furthermore, antimicrobial hydrogels have been employed in dental tissue engineering, particularly in the development of antibacterial root canal fillings. These hydrogels can release antimicrobial agents within the root canal system to eliminate or suppress bacterial colonization, preventing reinfection and promoting proper healing [ 156 , 157 ]. For example, in root canal disinfection, AMHs have been loaded with diclofenac, chlorhexidine, and metronidazole or silver ions [ 158 , 159 , 160 ].…”