Advances in oral GBR membranes for bone repair and regeneration: Materials, mechanisms, and applications

Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is a crucial technique in oral health for addressing alveolar bone deficiencies caused by periodontal disease, trauma, or infection. This review examines the latest advancements in GBR barrier membranes, focusing on their material properties, biological performance, and in vivo applications. Traditional non-resorbable membranes, such as dense and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and titanium meshes, offer superior space-maintaining abilities but require secondary surgeries for removal and can form biofilms. In contrast, resorbable membranes, including natural polymers such as collagen, and synthetic polymers like polylactic acid, provide biocompatibility but lack mechanical strength. Recent innovations have led to the development of biocomposite membranes that integrate multiple materials to enhance mechanical properties, antimicrobial capabilities, and osteoinductive functions. These advancements aim to overcome the limitations of traditional membranes by synchronizing degradation with bone regeneration kinetics and providing a more dynamic and supportive microenvironment for bone tissue repair. Finally, this review suggests that future studies should develop tailored degradation kinetics, enhanced antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory capabilities, and smart-responsive mechanisms of GBR membranes to better meet the spatiotemporal requirements of bone regeneration. This review consolidates current advancements and explores novel avenues within the field, delivering a state-of-the-art perspective tailored for both established and emerging researchers in biomaterials science.