Applications of hydrogels in periodontal tissue regeneration: From material design to clinical translation

Periodontitis is a globally prevalent chronic infectious inflammatory disease that destroys periodontal supporting tissues and threatens systemic health. This review summarizes hydrogel-related research for periodontal tissue regeneration and explores its synergistic application value with conventional therapies. We comprehensively reviewed the relevant literature on hydrogel-mediated therapy for periodontitis, elucidated their molecular mechanisms in regulating the periodontal inflammatory microenvironment and supporting tissue regeneration, and explored their clinical translation progress and existing challenges. Hydrogels possess high water content, excellent biocompatibility, and biomimetic three-dimensional (3D) structures. Through composite modification, they can adapt to the microenvironment of periodontal defects, integrating antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and osteogenic functions. When used in conjunction with conventional treatments, they significantly enhance therapeutic efficacy, improve clinical indicators, and reduce the risk of systemic antibiotic exposure. Conventional therapy serves as the cornerstone of periodontitis treatment, while hydrogels provide a crucial supplement to address its limitations in tissue regeneration, indicating that the synergistic potential between the conventional therapy and hydrogels is significant. Future efforts should focus on developing smart responsive hydrogels, optimizing preparation techniques, and integrating cutting-edge technologies to advance clinical translation, thereby offering new solutions for efficient periodontitis treatment.