From injectable to 3D printed hydrogels in maxillofacial tissue engineering: A review
Divya Mehrotra1, Ruby Dwivedi2, Deepti Nandana2
1Professor, Dept of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research
|October 19, 2020
Summary
This review explores advanced hydrogels for maxillofacial bone and cartilage tissue regeneration. Innovations in smart, 3D printed, and self-healing hydrogels show promise for improved scaffolds.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Hydrogels offer versatile properties for tissue regeneration.
- Recent advancements include smart, 3D printed, programmable, shape memory, and self-healing hydrogels.
- These materials are increasingly explored for maxillofacial bone and cartilage repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review different hydrogel types based on composition and fabrication.
- To highlight advancements in smart and engineered hydrogels.
- To assess their applicability in maxillofacial bone and cartilage tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid, Medline, Embase, ProQuest, Science Direct).
- Keywords: hydrogel, bone and cartilage tissue engineering, maxillofacial, clinical trials.
- Exclusion of reviews and in vitro studies; inclusion of relevant references.
Main Results:
- Injectable hydrogels yielded 16 relevant articles for maxillofacial bone and cartilage tissue engineering.
- 3D printed hydrogels resulted in 5 relevant articles for the same applications.
- Specific search restrictions and exclusions were applied to refine results.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogel modifications can enhance mechanical properties and biocompatibility.
- Tailored hydrogels hold significant potential for future maxillofacial bone and cartilage tissue engineering.
- Further research is warranted to optimize hydrogel-based scaffolds.
