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Immune-instructive biomaterials in oral tissue regeneration and therapy
Soomin Park1, Chase S Linsley2, Jana Zarubova2
1Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Department of Oral Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
None:
Oral diseases, including periodontitis, peri-implantitis, pulpitis, mucosal lesions, and oral squamous cell carcinoma, affect billions of people, which are increasingly recognized as immune-driven conditions with systemic implications. Unlike other tissues, the oral cavity presents a uniquely complex immune landscape shaped by continuous microbial exposure, stratified epithelial barriers, and inductive lymphoid structures. Traditional treatments focus on mechanical repair, antimicrobial control, and tissue regeneration, but often fail to address the underlying immune dysregulation directly. This review highlights biomaterial strategies that modulate oral immunity to drive resolution of the disease, restore homeostasis, and promote regeneration. We first discuss the oral mucosal immune environment and its role in disease pathogenesis, particularly the contributions of macrophages, T cells, and tissue-resident populations. Next, we highlight five immunomodulatory approaches: (1) delivery platforms such as mucoadhesive coatings, hydrogels, particles, and microneedles for the local delivery of bioactive payloads; (2) the physicochemical properties of biomaterials such as micro/nanotopography, wettability, surface charge, and immunoactive ion release that directly program innate and adaptive responses; (3) multi-functional platforms that integrate biomaterial structural functions and delivery capability; (4) cell-based immunomodulation; and (5) delivery of cell secretome such as extracellular vesicles. Applications span periodontitis and peri-implantitis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, we discuss how mechanistic investigations, innovative technologies, emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and the integration with artificial intelligence (AI) may transform the future directions in the field. Together, immunomodulatory biomaterials enable innovative approaches in oral medicine and patient-specific therapies.
