Acceleration of Oral Wound Healing under Diabetes Mellitus Conditions Using Bioadhesive Hydrogel

A machine learning-based risk prediction model for diabetic oral ulceration

BACKGROUND

Diabetic oral ulceration (DOU) is a prevalent and debilitating complication among diabetic patients, significantly impairing their quality of life and imposing substantial economic burdens. Studies indicate that over 90% of diabetic patients experience oral complications, with 45% suffering from oral ulcers. Clear diagnosis is crucial for effective clinical management and prognosis improvement. However, current diagnostic methods often fall short in early detection and intervention. Machine learning (ML) has shown promise in predicting disease development, yet no relevant predictive models for DOU have been established.

METHODS

This study aimed to develop an ML-based predictive model for DOU using oral examination, clinical, and socioeconomic data. The dataset included 324 diabetic patients, with 127 DOU features. One-hundred-fold cross-validation was employed for model optimization and feature selection. Data preprocessing involved handling missing values, scaling different range values, and feature selection using techniques such as Variance Threshold (VT), Mutual Information (MI), and Variance Inflation Factor (VIF). Four prediction models, Support Vector Machine Classifier (SVC), Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), Logistic Regression Classifier (LogReg), and Perceptron, were established and evaluated.

RESULTS

The SVC model outperformed the other models, achieving an accuracy (ACC) of 0.95 and an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.91. The top five features contributing to the model's predictions were the current number of oral ulcers, diminished oral functional capacity, number of decayed or missing teeth, possession of health insurance (commercial), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C), accounting for 57.32% of the total importance. Oral examination indicators accounted for 46.46%, serum lipid markers for 6.93%, and sociodemographic factors, personal lifestyles, and cardiovascular diseases also played significant roles.

CONCLUSION

The SVC model demonstrated superior performance and stability, making it suitable for predicting DOU occurrence and development in diabetic patients. This study's innovation lies in the comprehensive evaluation of multiple factors, including oral examinations, physiological indicators, self-management capabilities, and economic factors, to facilitate efficient DOU screening. The findings highlight the potential of ML in improving diagnostic accuracy and enabling timely interventions for DOU, ultimately contributing to better clinical management and patient outcomes. Future research should focus on validating the model across larger, multicenter cohorts and further exploring the long-term impact of ML-guided interventions on DOU management.

Electrical hydrogel: electrophysiological-based strategy for wound healing

Wound healing remains a significant challenge in clinical practice, driving ongoing exploration of innovative therapeutic approaches. In recent years, electrophysiological-based wound healing strategies have gained considerable attention. Specifically, electrical hydrogels combine the synergistic effects of electrical stimulation and hydrogel properties, offering a range of functional benefits for wound healing, including antibacterial activity, real-time wound monitoring, controlled drug release, and electrical treatment. Despite significant progress made in electrical hydrogel research for wound healing, there is a lack of comprehensive, systematic reviews summarizing this field. In this review, we survey the latest advancements in electrical hydrogel technology. After analyzing the mechanisms of electrical stimulation in promoting wound healing, we establish a novel classification framework for electrical hydrogels based on their operational principles. The review further provides an in-depth evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of these hydrogels in various types of wounds. Finally, we propose future directions and challenges for the development of electrical hydrogels for wound healing.

Adhesive and Antioxidant Hydrogel with Glucose/ROS Dual-Responsive Drug Release for Diabetic Oral Mucosal Wound Healing

Diabetes mellitus is a global health threat, with chronic wounds, including oral mucosal wounds, being a severe complication. These wounds are characterized by delayed healing and increased inflammation due to hyperglycemia, affecting patients' quality of life. Current treatments for oral mucosal wounds cannot offer sustained management of these injuries in diabetic patients. Here, a glucose/ROS dual-responsive hydrogel incorporating sitagliptin was developed for the treatment of diabetic oral mucosal wounds. After chemical modification of tetra-armed poly(ethylene glycol) succinimidyl glutarate (tetra-PEG-SG) by dopamine (DA) and tetra-armed poly(ethylene glycol) amine (tetra-PEG-NH2) by phenylboronic acid (PBA), the resulting hydrogel was capable of rapid gelation, robust tissue adhesion, self-healing, antioxidant capacity, and dual response to glucose and reactive oxygen species (ROS), enabling the feasible injection and stable adherence in the moist oral environment while ensuring sustained therapeutic sitagliptin release. In vivo experiments on oral mucosal defects in diabetic mice revealed that the sitagliptin-loaded hydrogel could effectively reduce inflammation and promote wound healing. Collectively, this finding identifies a potential wound dressing as a therapeutic strategy for diabetic oral mucosal wounds.

Internal-External Homologous Drug-Loaded Exosome-Like Nanovesicles Released from Semi-IPN Hydrogel Enhancing Wound Healing of Chemoradiotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis

Background

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common acute side effect among patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, with complex pathogenesis and limited current treatment efficacy. Rabdosia rubescens, a traditional Chinese herb, contains oridonin (ORI) with antibacterial and anti - inflammatory properties. However, ORI's poor solubility and low bioavailability hamper its clinical use. Medicinal plant - derived exosome - like nanovesicles (ENs) are emerging as a promising drug delivery system for wound repair. This study aimed to develop a novel therapeutic approach.

Methods

We fabricated internally-externally homologous drug-loaded exosome-like nanovesicles (ORI/ENs) derived from Rabdosia rubescens and encapsulated them in a semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel system (ORI/ENs/Gel) to repair chemoradiotherapy-induced OM. The morphology, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties were evaluated. Moreover, the proliferative and migratory capacity were measured using L929 cells. In addition, the pro-healing effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of ORI/ENs/Gel were assessed in vivo.

Results

ENs were extracted and purified from Rabdosia rubescens by sequential ultra-centrifugations. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) of ORI in ORI/ENs were 76.4 ± 3.2% and 9.21 ± 0.45%, respectively, suggesting that ENs had a high loading efficiency for homologous drug ORI. The evaluation of toxicity and antibacterial effects has been proven that ORI/ENs has biocompatibility and antibacterial properties. In vivo, ORI/ENs/Gel promoted collagen deposition, targeted NLRP3 to reduce inflammation, and accelerated OM wound healing.

Conclusion

The hydrogel composite incorporating internally-externally homologous drug-loaded ENs offers the potential to provide targeted therapy, improve bioavailability, and promote efficient healing of the OM.

Radiation-Therapy Related Salivary Dysfunction

Radiation-induced xerostomia (RIX) is a common and debilitating side effect of head and neck cancer radiotherapy, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. This review comprehensively summarizes the current understanding of RIX, encompassing its clinical quantification, underlying pathophysiology, and established and emerging treatment modalities. We explore various objective and subjective measures used to quantify salivary flow and assess the severity of xerostomia in clinical settings. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to RIX are elucidated, including radiation damage to salivary glands, alterations in saliva composition, and the role of inflammatory processes. Current treatment strategies, such as saliva substitutes and stimulants, are discussed alongside their limitations. Furthermore, we delve into novel investigational approaches, including gene therapy, stem cell transplantation, and pharmacologic interventions, offering promising avenues for future RIX management. This review provides clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive overview of RIX, highlighting the need for continued research to develop more effective preventative and therapeutic strategies to alleviate this burdensome condition.

The Extracellular Matrix Promotes Diabetic Oral Wound Healing by Modulating the Microenvironment

Oral wounds in diabetes mellitus (DM) often delay healing due to reduced angiogenesis and increased inflammatory response in the local microenvironment, even leading to graft necrosis and implant failure. Therefore, developing an effective program to promote healing is of great clinical value. Much of the current research is focused on promoting wound healing through surface adhesive materials that exert a pro-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory effect. However, the application of surface bonding materials in the oral cavity is very limited due to the humid and friction-prone environment. Decellularized extracellular adipose tissue (DAT) is an easily accessible and biocompatible material derived from adipose tissue. To further explore the potential of DAT, we used multi-omics to analyze its composition and possible mechanisms. Proteomic studies revealed that DAT contains anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic proteins that promote DM tissue regeneration. To adapt to the moist and chewing friction environment of the mouth, we modified DAT into a temperature-sensitive hydrogel material that can be injected intramucosally. DAT hydrogel has been verified to promote angiogenesis and exert anti-inflammatory effects through macrophage phenotypic transformation. Meanwhile, transcriptome analysis suggested that the inhibitory effect of DAT on the interleukin 17 signaling pathway might be a key factor in promoting DM oral wound healing. In conclusion, after multi-omic analysis, DAT hydrogel can exert good pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects through the interleukin 17 signaling pathway and can be adapted to the specific environment of the oral cavity. This provides a potential way to promote DM oral wound healing in a clinical setting.

MXene-Integrated Responsive Hydrogel Microneedles for Oral Ulcers Healing

Glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone have shown promising therapeutic effects in conquering oral ulcers. Challenges in this area are focused on enhancing the localized curative effects and responsive release. Herein, we presented a novel MXene-integrated responsive hydrogel microneedle delivering dexamethasone to promote the healing of oral ulceration. By loading MXene, the hydrogel microneedles enable NIR (Near Infrared)-responsive release of the inner dexamethasone for inflammation control and tissue regeneration. In addition, the MXene-induced local hyperthermia could inhibit the bacteria, preventing the possible infection of ulcer lesions in the oral cavity. Based on these features, we demonstrated that our strategy could relieve local inflammation, promote tissue reconstruction, and accelerate wound healing in rat oral ulcer models. Overall, these NIR-responsive MXene-integrated hydrogel microneedles show significant promise in promoting ulcer healing and bring new ways for oral disease treatment.

A Natural Eumelanin-Assisted Pullulan/Chitosan Hydrogel for the Management of Diabetic Oral Ulcers

Existing methods for treating diabetic oral ulcers often fall short in clinical environments due to potential bacterial contamination, oxidative harm, and hindered angiogenesis throughout the healing process. Here, a hydrogel patch (HYG2) have been developed for local in situ application. HYG2 comprises oxidized pullulan, quaternized chitosan, and eumelanin nanoparticles derived from cuttlefish ink. These components work together to efficiently heal wounds associated with diabetic oral ulcers. Application begins with a simple local injection that quickly forms a protective barrier over the mucosa, effectively stopping bleeding and counteracting inflammatory agents. HYG2 is distinguished by its strong antibacterial properties and capacity to eliminate reactive oxygen species, promoting bacteria clearance and managing oxidative stress, which accelerates the healing phase from inflammation to tissue regeneration. Additionally, HYG2's 3D structure, incorporating elements from natural sources, offers exemplary support for structural and nutritional cell needs. This enhancement fosters cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation, along with further angiogenesis during mucosal remodeling. Ultimately, HYG2 is fully absorbed by the body after serving its therapeutic functions. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies shows that HYG2 hydrogel markedly accelerates mucosal wound repair, making it a promising treatment for diabetic oral ulcers.

Advances in Adhesive Materials for Oral and Maxillofacial Soft Tissue Diseases

Oral diseases represent a prevalent global health burden, profoundly affecting patients' quality of life. Given the involvement of oral mucosa and muscles in diverse physiological functions, coupled with clinical aesthetics considerations, repairing oral and maxillofacial soft tissue defects poses a formidable challenge. Wet-adhesive materials are regarded as promising oral repair materials due to their unique advantages in easily overcoming physical and biological barriers in the oral cavity. This review first introduces the intricate wet-state environment prevalent in the oral cavity, meticulously explaining the fundamental physical and chemical adhesion mechanisms that underpin adhesive materials. It then comprehensively summarizes the diverse types of adhesives utilized in stomatology, encompassing polysaccharide, protein, and synthetic polymer adhesive materials. The review further evaluates the latest research advancements in utilizing these materials to treat various oral and maxillofacial soft tissue diseases, including oral mucosal diseases, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, oral and maxillofacial skin defects, and maxillofacial tumors. Finally, it also highlights the promising future prospects and pivotal challenges related to stomatology application of multifunctional adhesive materials.

Hydrogels in Oral Disease Management: A Review of Innovations in Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration

The oral cavity is an open and complicated structure with a variety of factors affecting topical oral medications. The complicated physical and chemical surroundings of the oral cavity can influence the action of free drugs. Thus, the drug delivery system can serve as a support structure or carrier. Hydrogels are prospective tissue engineering biomaterials that demonstrate immense potential for oral tissue regeneration and drug delivery. Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer chains with a 3-dimensional network structure that can take up larger volumes of liquid and have a soft, porous structure that closely resembles living tissue. Hydrogels protect the active drug from systemic and topical elimination, increase the bioavailability and absorption into cells, and release or modify the therapeutic drug release immediately after dosing. In this review, we introduce the classification of hydrogels, introduce the application of hydrogels in oral diseases (periodontal disease, endodontics, oral mucosal disease, alveolar surgery, oral cancer, maxillofacial bone defects, and oral implantation), summarize the synthesis methods and the applications of hydrogels, and discuss the possible directions of the future development of hydrogels, which will provide a new idea for the formulation and production of a more advantageous and efficient topical oral drug delivery system.

Multifunctional hydrogels for the healing of oral ulcers

Oral ulcers are one of the most common oral diseases in clinical practice. Its etiology is complex and varied. Due to the dynamic nature of the oral environment, the wound surface is painful due to contact and wear, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Oral ulcers are often treated with topical drug therapy. Studies have shown that functional hydrogels play a positive role in promoting wound healing, showing unique advantages in wound dressings. In this paper, the causes and healing characteristics of oral ulcers are discussed in depth, and then the common treatment methods for oral ulcers are summarized and compared. Finally, the potential of functional hydrogels in the treatment of oral ulcers is discussed and projected through a review of the literature in recent years.

Electrical Microneedles for Wound Treatment

Electrical stimulation has been hotpot research and provoked extensive interest in a broad application such as wound closure, tissue injury repair, and nerve engineering. In particular, immense efforts have been dedicated to developing electrical microneedles, which demonstrate unique features in terms of controllable drug release, real-time monitoring, and therapy, thus greatly accelerating the process of wound healing. Here, a review of state-of-art research concerning electrical microneedles applied for wound treatment is presented. After a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms of electrical stimulation on wound healing, the derived three types of electrical microneedles are clarified and summarized. Further, their applications in wound healing are highlighted. Finally, current perspectives and directions for the development of future electrical microneedles in improving wound healing are addressed.

Promoting diabetic oral mucosa wound healing with a light-responsive hydrogel adaptive to the microenvironment

In diabetic patients, compromised angiogenesis due to endothelial dysfunction leads to delayed intraoral wound healing. However, the moist and dynamic environment of the oral cavity impedes the use of normal wound dressings. Sulfated chitosan (SCS) is a promising biomaterial that promoting angiogenesis. Here, a light-responsive hydrogel combined with SCS explored intraoral wound healing. We designed a SCS-modified hydrogel combined with alginate Methacryloyl (AlgMA) and acrylamide (AM) and demonstrated efficient wet adhesion and mechanical properties suitable for the wet and dynamic oral environment. In vitro, the SAA hydrogel improved the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under high-glucose conditions. Further investigations revealed that the SAA hydrogel can regulate HUVEC-macrophage interactions, leading to a shift in macrophage polarization from M1 to M2, thereby fostering an environment conducive to angiogenesis under high-glucose condition. The results demonstrated the substantial therapeutic impact of the SAA hydrogel on diabetic oral defect repair by effectively enhancing the local blood supply and angiogenesis.

Novel Functional Dressing Materials for Intraoral Wound Care

Intraoral wounds represent a particularly challenging category of mucosal and hard tissue injuries, characterized by the unique structures, complex environment, and distinctive healing processes within the oral cavity. They have a common occurrence yet frequently inflict significant inconvenience and pain on patients, causing a serious decline in the quality of life. A variety of novel functional dressings specifically designed for the moist and dynamic oral environment have been developed and realized accelerated and improved wound healing. Thoroughly analyzing and summarizing these materials is of paramount importance in enhancing the understanding and proficiently managing intraoral wounds. In this review, the particular processes and unique characteristics of intraoral wound healing are firstly described. Up-to-date knowledge of various forms, properties, and applications of existing products are then intensively discussed, which are categorized into animal products, plant extracts, natural polymers, and synthetic products. To conclude, this review presents a comprehensive framework of currently available functional intraoral wound dressings, with an aim to provoke inspiration of future studies to design more convenient and versatile materials.

Bioadhesive and drug-loaded cellulose nanofiber/alginate film for healing oral mucosal wounds

Recurrent oral ulcers are common oral mucosal lesions that severely reduce patients' quality of life. Commercial mucoadhesive films are easily disrupted due to oral movement and complex wet environments, thus reducing drug utilization and even causing toxic side effects. Herein, we report a mucoadhesive film composed of Ca2+-crosslinked carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibers and alginate, in which two drugs of dexamethasone (DXM) and dyclonine hydrochloride (DYC) are loaded for the treatment of oral ulcers. The wet films have a high Young's modulus of 7.1 ± 2.6 MPa and a large strain of 53.6 ± 9.8 % and adhere to tissue strongly, which allows them to resist the deformation caused by frequent oral movement. The films also have nice durability against water and excellent biocompatibility. Moreover, the drug release was controlled at different rates. The fast release of DYC facilitates the quick relief of pain, while the slow release of DXM benefits the long-term treatment of wounds. Finally, the animal experiment demonstrates the films displayed excellent therapeutic efficacy in healing oral ulcers.

Recent Advances in Functional Hydrogels for Treating Dental Hard Tissue and Endodontic Diseases

Oral health is the basis of human health, and almost everyone has been affected by oral diseases. Among them, endodontic disease is one of the most common oral diseases. Limited by the characteristics of oral biomaterials, clinical methods for endodontic disease treatment still face large challenges in terms of reliability and stability. The hydrogel is a kind of good biomaterial with an adjustable 3D network structure, excellent mechanical properties, and biocompatibility and is widely used in the basic and clinical research of endodontic disease. This Review discusses the recent advances in functional hydrogels for dental hard tissue and endodontic disease treatment. The emphasis is on the working principles and therapeutic effects of treating different diseases with functional hydrogels. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of hydrogels in oral clinical applications are discussed and proposed. Some viewpoints about the possible development direction of functional hydrogels for oral health in the future are also put forward. Through systematic analysis and conclusion of the recent advances in functional hydrogels for dental hard tissue and endodontic disease treatment, this Review may provide significant guidance and inspiration for oral disease and health in the future.

From Short Circuit to Completed Circuit: Conductive Hydrogel Facilitating Oral Wound Healing

The primary challenges posed by oral mucosal diseases are their high incidence and the difficulty in managing symptoms. Inspired by the ability of bioelectricity to activate cells, accelerate metabolism, and enhance immunity, a conductive polyacrylamide/sodium alginate crosslinked hydrogel composite containing reduced graphene oxide (PAA-SA@rGO) is developed. This composite possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, serving as a bridge to turn the "short circuit" of the injured site into a "completed circuit," thereby prompting fibroblasts in proximity to the wound site to secrete growth factors and expedite tissue regeneration. Simultaneously, the PAA-SA@rGO hydrogel effectively seals wounds to form a barrier, exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents foreign bacterial invasion. As the electric field of the wound is rebuilt and repaired by the PAA-SA@rGO hydrogel, a 5 × 5 mm2 wound in the full-thickness buccal mucosa of rats can be expeditiously mended within mere 7 days. The theoretical calculations indicate that the PAA-SA@rGO hydrogel can aggregate and express SOX2, PITX1, and PITX2 at the wound site, which has a promoting effect on rapid wound healing. Importantly, this PAA-SA@rGO hydrogel has a fast curative effect and only needs to be applied for the first three days, which significantly improves patient satisfaction during treatment.

Precise healing of oral and maxillofacial wounds: tissue engineering strategies and their associated mechanisms

Precise healing of wounds in the oral and maxillofacial regions is usually achieved by targeting the entire healing process. The rich blood circulation in the oral and maxillofacial regions promotes the rapid healing of wounds through the action of various growth factors. Correspondingly, their tissue engineering can aid in preventing wound infections, accelerate angiogenesis, and enhance the proliferation and migration of tissue cells during wound healing. Recent years, have witnessed an increase in the number of researchers focusing on tissue engineering, particularly for precise wound healing. In this context, hydrogels, which possess a soft viscoelastic nature and demonstrate exceptional biocompatibility and biodegradability, have emerged as the current research hotspot. Additionally, nanofibers, films, and foam sponges have been explored as some of the most viable materials for wound healing, with noted advantages and drawbacks. Accordingly, future research is highly likely to explore the application of these materials harboring enhanced mechanical properties, reduced susceptibility to external mechanical disturbances, and commendable water absorption and non-expansion attributes, for superior wound healing.

One-Step Synthesis of Hydrogel Adhesive with Acid-Responsive Tannin Release for Diabetic Oral Mucosa Defects Healing

The complex preparation, weak wet tissue adhesion, and limited biological activity of traditional oral wound dressings usually impede their efficient treatment and healing for diabetic oral mucosal defects. To overcome these problems, a novel hydrogel adhesive (named CFT hydrogel) is rapidly constructed using a one-step method based on dual-dynamic covalent cross-linking. Compared with the commercial oral patches, the CFT hydrogel shows superior in vivo (rat tongue) wet tissue adhesion performance. Additionally, the CFT hydrogel exhibits unique acid-responsive properties, thereby facilitating the release of bioactive molecule tannic acid in the acidic diabetic wound microenvironment. And a series of in vitro experiments substantiate the favorable biocompatibility and bioactivity properties (including antibacterial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenetic effects) exhibited by CFT hydrogel. Moreover, in vivo experiments conducted on a diabetic rat model with oral mucosal defects demonstrate that the CFT hydrogel exhibits significant efficacy in protecting against mucosal wounds, alleviating inflammatory reactions, thereby facilitating the wound-healing process. Taken together, this study provides a promising and comprehensive therapeutic option with great potential for the clinical management of oral mucosa defects in diabetic patients.

Doping proanthocyanidins into gel/zirconium hybrid hydrogel to reshape the microenvironment of diabetic wounds for healing acceleration

Infection and chronic inflammation caused by oxidative stress are major challenges in chronic wound healing. Preparing a simple, efficient hydrogel with reactive oxygen-scavenging properties for chronic wound repair is a promising strategy. Herein, we report an injectable, self-repairing hydrogel with antioxidant and antibacterial properties that can be used to regenerate diabetic wounds. Hydrogels are prepared by coordination crosslinking of gelatin (Gel), a natural biopolymer derived from collagen, with Zr4+. Because of the dynamic properties of metal ion coordination bonds and the bactericidal effect of Zr4+, the obtained coordination hydrogels exhibit self-healing, injectable, and antibacterial properties. The plant polyphenol "proanthocyanidins," which has reactive oxygen-scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects, was simultaneously loaded into the coordination hydrogel during cross-linking. We obtained a versatile hydrogel that is easy to prepare, resistant to mechanical irritation, and antioxidant, and antibacterial in vitro. We further demonstrated that the injectable self-healing hydrogels could effectively repair diabetic skin wounds and accelerate collagen deposition and wound healing. This study shows that the multifunctional antioxidant hydrogel has great potential in developing multifunctional biomaterials for chronic wound healing.

Enhancing wound healing and adhesion through dopamine-assisted gelatin-silica hybrid dressings

Gelatin, widely employed in hydrogel dressings, faces limitations when used in high fluid environments, hindering effective material adhesion to wound sites and subsequently reducing treatment efficacy. The rapid degradation of conventional hydrogels often results in breakdown before complete wound healing. Thus, there is a pressing need for the development of durable adhesive wound dressings. In this study, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) was utilized as a coupling agent to create gelatin-silica hybrid (G-H) dressings through the sol-gel method. The coupling reaction established covalent bonds between gelatin and silica networks, enhancing structural stability. Dopamine (DP) was introduced to this hybrid (G-H-D) dressing to further boost adhesiveness. The efficacy of the dressings for wound management was assessed through in-vitro and in-vivo tests, along with ex-vivo bioadhesion testing on pig skin. Tensile bioadhesion tests demonstrated that the G-H-D material exhibited approximately 2.5 times greater adhesion to soft tissue in wet conditions compared to pure gelatin. Moreover, in-vitro and in-vivo wound healing experiments revealed a significant increase in wound healing rates. Consequently, this material shows promise as a viable option for use as a moist wound dressing.

Exploring Interleukin-10 Levels in Diabetes Patients with and without Oral Diseases: A Systematic Review

Aim

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine that plays an important role in the progression of diabetes mellitus (DM). Oral diseases were more common in diabetics than in non-diabetics. The aim of this review is to identify IL-10 levels in diabetic patients with and without oral diseases.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines. Three databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct) were used to search for articles up to November 2023 for studies on the measurement of IL-10 in diabetics with and without oral disease. The criteria were limited to human studies and full-text in English only. The outcome was the value of IL-10. The study was quality-graded using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS).

Results

There were eleven articles that met the eligibility criteria for analysis. Four articles discovered higher IL-10 levels, while seven articles discovered lower IL-10 levels in diabetes patients with oral diseases compared with each control group.

Conclusion

Most studies showed lower IL-10 levels in diabetic patients with oral diseases compared with the control group.

Recent advances of hydrogels as smart dressings for diabetic wounds

Chronic diabetic wounds have been an urgent clinical problem, and wound dressings play an important role in their management. Due to the design of traditional dressings, it is difficult to achieve adaptive adhesion and on-demand removal of complex diabetic wounds, real-time monitoring of wound status, and dynamic adjustment of drug release behavior according to the wound microenvironment. Smart hydrogels, as smart dressings, can respond to environmental stimuli and achieve more precise local treatment. Here, we review the latest progress of smart hydrogels in wound bandaging, dynamic monitoring, and drug delivery for treatment of diabetic wounds. It is worth noting that we have summarized the most important properties of smart hydrogels for diabetic wound healing. In addition, we discuss the unresolved challenges and future prospects in this field. We hope that this review will contribute to furthering progress on smart hydrogels as improved dressing for diabetic wound healing and practical clinical application.

Bioadhesive and Injectable Hydrogels and Their Correlation with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation for Cartilage Repair: A Mini-Review

Injectable bioadhesive hydrogels, known for their capacity to carry substances and adaptability in processing, offer great potential across various biomedical applications. They are especially promising in minimally invasive stem cell-based therapies for treating cartilage damage. This approach harnesses readily available mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into chondrocytes for cartilage regeneration. In this review, we investigate the relationship between bioadhesion and MSC differentiation. We summarize the fundamental principles of bioadhesion and discuss recent trends in bioadhesive hydrogels. Furthermore, we highlight their specific applications in conjunction with stem cells, particularly in the context of cartilage repair. The review also encompasses a discussion on testing methods for bioadhesive hydrogels and direct techniques for differentiating MSCs into hyaline cartilage chondrocytes. These approaches are explored within both clinical and laboratory settings, including the use of genetic tools. While this review offers valuable insights into the interconnected aspects of these topics, it underscores the need for further research to fully grasp the complexities of their relationship.

Functional drug-delivery hydrogels for oral and maxillofacial wound healing

The repair process for oral and maxillofacial injuries involves hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Injury repair involves a variety of cells, including platelets, immune cells, fibroblasts, and various cytokines. Rapid and adequate healing of oral and maxillofacial trauma is a major concern to patients. Functional drug-delivery hydrogels play an active role in promoting wound healing and have shown unique advantages in wound dressings. Functional hydrogels promote wound healing through their adhesive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, hemostatic, angiogenic, and re-epithelialization-promoting properties, effectively sealing wounds and reducing inflammation. In addition, functional hydrogels can respond to changes in temperature, light, magnetic fields, pH, and reactive oxygen species to release drugs, enabling precise treatment. Furthermore, hydrogels can deliver various cargos that promote healing, including nucleic acids, cytokines, small-molecule drugs, stem cells, exosomes, and nanomaterials. Therefore, functional drug-delivery hydrogels have a positive impact on the healing of oral and maxillofacial injuries. This review describes the oral mucosal structure and healing process and summarizes the currently available responsive hydrogels used to promote wound healing.

Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles with Applications in Oral Diseases Management

Controlled drug delivery in the oral cavity poses challenges such as bacterial contamination, saliva dilution, and inactivation by salivary enzymes upon ingestion. Microneedles offer a location-specific, minimally invasive, and retentive approach. Hydrogel-forming microneedles (HFMs) have emerged for dental diagnostics and therapeutics. HFMs penetrate the stratum corneum, undergo swelling upon contact, secure attachment, and enable sustained transdermal or transmucosal drug delivery. Commonly employed polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone are crosslinked with tartaric acid or its derivatives while incorporating therapeutic agents. Microneedle patches provide suture-free and painless drug delivery to keratinized or non-keratinized mucosa, facilitating site-specific treatment and patient compliance. This review comprehensively discusses HFMs' applications in dentistry such as local anesthesia, oral ulcer management, periodontal treatment, etc., encompassing animal experiments, clinical trials, and their fundamental impact and limitations, for example, restricted drug carrying capacity and, until now, a low number of dental clinical trial reports. The review explores the advantages and future perspectives of HFMs for oral drug delivery.

The impact of oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction on diabetic microvascular complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia, with absolute insulin deficiency or insulin resistance as the main cause, and causes damage to various target organs including the heart, kidney and neurovascular. In terms of the pathological and physiological mechanisms of DM, oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms leading to DM and is an important link between DM and its complications. Oxidative stress is a pathological phenomenon resulting from an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the scavenging of antioxidant systems. The main site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is the mitochondria, which are also the main organelles damaged. In a chronic high glucose environment, impaired electron transport chain within the mitochondria leads to the production of ROS, prompts increased proton leakage and altered mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which in turn releases cytochrome c (cyt-c), leading to apoptosis. This subsequently leads to a vicious cycle of impaired clearance by the body's antioxidant system, impaired transcription and protein synthesis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is responsible for encoding mitochondrial proteins, and impaired DNA repair systems, contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction. This paper reviews the dysfunction of mitochondria in the environment of high glucose induced oxidative stress in the DM model, and looks forward to providing a new treatment plan for oxidative stress based on mitochondrial dysfunction.