Recent advances in injectable hydrogel therapies for periodontitis

Periodontitis is an immune-inflammatory disease caused by dental plaque, and deteriorates the periodontal ligament, causes alveolar bone loss, and may lead to tooth loss. To treat periodontitis, antibacterial and anti-inflammation approaches are required to reduce bone loss. Thus, appropriate drug administration methods are significant. Due to their “syringeability”, biocompatibility, and convenience, injectable hydrogels and associated methods have been extensively studied and used for periodontitis therapy. Such hydrogels are made from natural and synthetic polymer materials using physical and/or chemical cross-linking approaches. Interestingly, some injectable hydrogels are stimuli-responsive hydrogels, which respond to the local microenvironment and form hydrogels that release drugs. Therefore, as injectable hydrogels are different and highly varied, we systematically reviewed the periodontal treatment field from three perspectives: raw material sources, cross-linking methods, and stimuli-responsive methods. We then discussed current challenges and opportunities for the translation of hydrogels to clinic, which may guide further injectable hydrogel designs for periodontitis.