Nanoscale Approaches to Oro-Dental Tissue Engineering: A Review of Strategies, Composites, and Translational Challenges

Pei Wang,1– 3 Yingtong Ye,4 Keyi Mei,1– 3 Biaoqi Chen,4 Ranjith Kumar Kankala,4 Fei Tong1– 3 1School of Stomatology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 3Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 4Institute of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Pei Wang, School of Stomatology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China, Email ndfskqyy620@ncu.edu.cn Fei Tong, School of Stomatology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China, Email tongfei015047@126.comAbstract: Oral health is vital to human well-being. As a result, various conditions in the oral cavity, including exposure to dentin and edentulous states, lead to diverse oral issues and tissue loss. Although conventional treatments are available, they often have limitations in drug delivery and tissue regeneration. For example, delivered drugs may fail to disrupt bacterial biofilms, thereby increasing resistance within the oral microbiome and weakening immune responses. Additionally, the limited regenerative capacity of dental pulp cells can lead to serious dental emergencies. To address these challenges, innovative nanoarchitectures have been developed to improve their antimicrobial effects and enhance the regenerative potential of oral tissues for oro-dental tissue engineering. This review discusses different nanotechnological strategies for delivery and subsequent tissue engineering in the oral cavity. We first explore concepts to boost regenerative capacity, emphasizing the roles of various nanomaterials that act as antibacterial agents, activate the differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells, and support their integration with soft oral tissues. Beyond nano-therapeutic strategies involving dental implants, we also discuss nanotoxicity issues and remaining challenges in oral health. Finally, we offer perspectives on translating these developments into clinical practice. Keywords: nanomaterials, tissue regeneration, regenerative medicine, soft tissue integration, supramolecular assemblies