Bioengineering of Periodontal Tissues: Cell Therapy and Biomaterials Application

TL;DR

This paper reviews advances in using cell therapy and biomaterials to regenerate complex periodontal tissues, aiming to improve treatments for oral diseases.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in cell-based and biomaterial-assisted strategies for periodontal regeneration.

Findings

Stem-cell-based strategies combined with engineered scaffolds enhance periodontal regeneration.

Hydrogels, microspheres, and 3D bioprinting are promising for multi-tissue restoration.

Immune-responsive biomaterials and personalized cellular constructs are key for clinical translation.

Abstract

Periodontal regeneration remains one of the most demanding challenges in oral bioengineering due to the structural complexity of the periodontium and the inflammatory microenvironment accompanying disease. Conventional surgical and pharmacological therapies often fail to achieve full restoration of bone, ligament and cementum, prompting the development of cell-based and biomaterial-assisted approaches. This review summarizes current advances in cellular technologies for periodontal regeneration, emphasizing the biological rationale, material design and delivery methods shaping next-generation treatments. We discuss stem-cell-based strategies employing periodontal ligament, dental pulp and mesenchymal stem cells, their paracrine and immunomodulatory roles, and how their therapeutic potential is enhanced through integration into engineered scaffolds. Recent progress in hydrogel systems, microspheres, decellularized matrices and 3D bioprinting is analyzed, highlighting how structural cues, bioactive nanoparticles and gene-modified cells enable multi-tissue regeneration. Emerging delivery and biofabrication techniques, from manual seeding to automated and in situ printing, are reviewed as key determinants of clinical translation. The convergence of bioprinting precision, immune-responsive biomaterials and personalized cellular constructs positions periodontal bioengineering as a rapidly maturing field with strong prospects for functional restoration of diseased oral tissues.

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