Multifunctional growth factor mouthwash promotes oral ulcer healing

Oral aphthous ulcers are a common inflammatory condition of the oral mucosa, causing significant pain and functional impairment. Conventional treatments fail to achieve comprehensive tissue regeneration, partly because single growth factors cannot replicate the orchestrated interplay of multiple signaling molecules required for physiological healing. To address this gap, we engineered a multifunctional mouthwash that integrates five key growth factors including PDGF, TGF-β, IGF, VEGF, and bFGF with the antimicrobial agent cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). This design mimics the natural synergy of endogenous growth factors, combining pro-regenerative signaling with robust antimicrobial activity. In vitro optimization confirmed that this synergistic formulation enhances epithelial and endothelial proliferation, accelerates cell migration, promotes vascular network formation, and shifts macrophages toward a reparative phenotype, while maintaining high bactericidal efficacy without compromising protein bioactivity. In a rat oral ulcer model, topical application of the mouthwash markedly accelerated mucosal closure, increased collagen deposition, stimulated angiogenesis, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. These findings demonstrate that coordinated delivery of multiple growth factors within a stabilized antimicrobial microenvironment effectively promotes oral mucosal repair and offers a promising strategy for clinical ulcer management.