Engineering soft-hard tissue interfaces in dental and craniofacial system by spatially controlled bioactivities

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Craniofacial Biology

Background:

• Soft-hard tissue interfaces are crucial for load transmission and injury protection, featuring gradient changes in cells and matrix.
• Musculoskeletal and periodontal interfaces are well-researched regenerative targets.
• Dental and craniofacial soft-hard tissue interfaces remain underexplored despite their clinical significance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the clinical significance of regenerative strategies for neglected soft-hard tissue interfaces in the dental and craniofacial systems.
• To review bioengineering approaches utilizing 3D scaffolds with spatially controlled bioactivities for interface regeneration.
• To identify remaining challenges and future perspectives for clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on regenerative strategies for soft-hard tissue interfaces.
• Analysis of bioengineering approaches, particularly 3D scaffolds with controlled bioactivities.
• Discussion of clinical translation considerations.

Main Results:

• The clinical significance of dental and craniofacial soft-hard tissue interfaces is substantial but often overlooked.
• 3D scaffolds with spatially controlled bioactivities represent a key bioengineering strategy for regeneration.
• Significant challenges remain in scaffold design, bioactivity control, and clinical translation.

Conclusions:

• Regenerative strategies for dental and craniofacial soft-hard tissue interfaces are clinically significant and require further development.
• Bioactive 3D scaffolds show promise but need further research to overcome challenges in clinical translation.
• Future research should focus on innovative scaffold designs and robust preclinical/clinical validation.