Breakthrough in Antimicrobial Hydrogels for Dental Tissue Engineering: Regenerative Periodontics, Endodontics, and Pedodontics

Introduction: With their ability to control infections and promote regeneration, antimicrobial hydrogels are showing great promise as biomaterials for dental tissue engineering. Aim: In this study, hydrogels containing antibiotics, silver nanoparticles, or antimicrobial peptides were synthesized, characterized, and their physicochemical characteristics, antimicrobial efficacy, and biocompatibility were assessed. Materials and Methods: With a sustained release of antimicrobial agents, the formulations demonstrated favorable swelling, degradation, and mechanical stability. Results: When compared to blank controls, all modified hydrogels significantly decreased the growth and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans , Enterococcus faecalis , and Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria ( P < 0.05). While peptide-modified hydrogels showed better support for stem cell viability, proliferation, and odontogenic differentiation, hydrogels loaded with silver nanoparticles showed the strongest inhibition of biofilm. Effective bacterial reduction and good handling in root canal models were confirmed by ex vivo testing. Conclusion: All of these results point to the possibility of using antimicrobial hydrogels in regenerative periodontics, endodontics, and pedodontics to close the gap between tissue regeneration and infection control.