Research progress on injectable hydrogel scaffolds in dental pulp regeneration

Tissue engineering provides a new possibility for pulp regeneration. As one of the three elements of tissue engineering, scaffolds have attracted increasing attention. Because the root canal system is limited by the unique anatomical structure of the long and narrow lumen, the preformed scaffold cannot be completely covered with the whole root canal space, although it is convenient to apply, so the injectable scaffold may be an ideal choice for pulp tissue engineering. Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer networks with physical properties similar to soft tissues. They can provide a porous hydrophilic microenvironment, which facilitates the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients. In recent years, researchers have used injectable hydrogels with different mechanical properties and/or loaded biologically active ingredients as scaffolds to promote revascularization and the regeneration of pulp. The results show that natural polymer hydrogels, synthetic polymer hydrogels, and composite hydrogels combining natural and synthetic polymers all have excellent biocompatibility. The types and mechanical properties of hydrogels and the addition of bioactive ingredients can influence the behavior of stem cells, and gelatin-based hydrogels and fibrin-based hydrogels can also achieve rapid vascularization, which creates the conditions for the formation of pulp-like tissues. Among them, photocrosslinked methacrylated gelatin/hyaluronic acid hydrogels, two/multicomponent hydrogels combined with chitosan with antibacterial and temperature-sensitive properties and new self-assembled peptides have become major research topics in recent years due to their excellent properties. To develop suitable hydrogel scaffolds and promote their application in pulp regeneration, this article reviews the research progress in the types, preparation, and application of injectable hydrogels used for dental pulp regeneration.