Extracellular vesicles as therapeutic tools in regenerative dentistry

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Dental and maxillofacial diseases cause significant hard and soft tissue defects, impacting patient quality of life.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as promising therapeutic agents for tissue regeneration.
• EVs offer advantages over stem cells, including lower immunogenicity, tumorigenicity, and ethical concerns, with higher stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the functional roles of EVs in oral and maxillofacial tissue regeneration.
• To summarize the mechanisms of action and delivery strategies for EV-based dental tissue regeneration.
• To provide insights into the clinical applications of EVs in regenerative dentistry.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies on EVs in oral and maxillofacial tissue regeneration.
• Analysis of EV functions in bone, periodontal, cartilage, dental, nerve, and soft tissue repair.
• Synthesis of information on EV mechanisms and delivery systems.

Main Results:

• EVs demonstrate significant potential in regenerating various dental and maxillofacial tissues.
• Key mechanisms involve EVs' intrinsic signaling molecules and physiological characteristics.
• Effective delivery strategies are crucial for optimizing EV therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

• EV therapy holds broad clinical application potential in regenerative dentistry.
• Further research into EV mechanisms and delivery is warranted.
• This review offers guidelines for future EV research and clinical translation in dentistry.