Fibrin/bioglass hydrogel composites for bone and dental regeneration

Composite materials have been widely used in the last decades in different fields, thanks to their versatility and multifunctionality since they contain more than one element, providing more benefits to the human organism. Fibrin is a natural protein that comes from blood clotting. It has become an exciting FDA and EMA-approved material for bone tissue engineering, dental regeneration, wound healing, and drug delivery, because it is biocompatible and biodegradable and helps cells stick together, grow, and differentiate while acting as a strong scaffold matrix. As a human protein, fibrin can be easily derived from the patient's blood, making it an appealing biomaterial. Moreover, studies show that fibrin hydrogels can carry different biomolecules to deliver into the site, such as drugs, growth factors, cells, and genes. It is usually administered in three ways: injection, coating, or as a sealant. Combining fibrin with a highly bioactive biomaterial such as bioactive glass creates a perfect composite that benefits from the advantages of both elements and can be used as an efficient bone substitute. This review focuses on the biology and synthesis of human fibrin in hepatocytes, before highlighting its roles in the human body in blood clot formation, wound healing, angiogenesis, and immune response. We also review fibrin's unique properties, that makes it an attractive hydrogel biomaterial for dental and bone regeneration, before highlighting fibrin associated with bioactive materials such as bioceramics and bioglass (BG). These composites exhibit efficient therapeutic effects and promising results for the future of fibrin research.