Bioengineering in salivary gland regeneration

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Salivary gland (SG) dysfunction significantly impacts patient quality of life, particularly in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and individuals with Sjögren's syndrome.
• Effective bioengineering solutions for SG regeneration, repair, or replacement necessitate a deep understanding of epithelial stem and progenitor cell niches during branching morphogenesis and crucial cell-cell communication signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review essential bioengineering features for fabricating functional salivary gland models.
• To describe recent innovative approaches in salivary gland engineering.
• To discuss current challenges and future perspectives in salivary gland bioengineering.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review focusing on salivary gland bioengineering.
• Analysis of cell types, biomaterials, active agents, and matrix fabrication methods relevant to SG model creation.
• Evaluation of recent advancements and innovative strategies in SG tissue engineering.

Main Results:

• Identification of key bioengineering considerations for developing functional SG models.
• Highlighting of promising and innovative approaches in current SG engineering research.
• Discussion of the critical role of understanding stem cell niches and signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• Successful salivary gland bioengineering requires careful selection of cell types, biomaterials, and fabrication techniques.
• Continued research into stem cell biology and signaling pathways is vital for advancing SG regeneration.
• Addressing current challenges will pave the way for future breakthroughs in engineered salivary gland therapies.