Bioactive wet adhesive materials for oral health: strategies and applications

The oral cavity represents a unique and complex anatomical environment characterized by its moist and dynamic nature. This environment is crucial for numerous physiological functions, including digestion, respiration, and phonation, while also serving as a critical interface between the host and various microbial communities. The interplay among resident microbiota, host immune responses, and environmental factors contributes to oral health maintenance. However, this balance can be disrupted, leading to susceptibility to microbial invasion and inflammatory disorders. Conventional oral healthcare materials often fall short in providing sustained therapeutic benefits locally. To address this challenge, researchers combine various bioactive materials with polymer networks designed for wet-adhesion, tailored to the unique conditions of the oral cavity. This review outlines key design strategies for achieving stable wet adhesion, including eliminating interfacial water, establishing robust interfacial linkages, and enhancing material cohesion. Building on interfacial stability, this review further discusses the three dominant strategies for integrating bioactivities, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and osteogenic activities, emphasizing the synergistic interplay of bioactivity and wet adhesive performance. Furthermore, this review presents the prospects for bioactive wet adhesive materials in promoting oral health, providing insights into existing challenges and potential avenues for development.