Engineering danger signal-targeted biomaterials for oral inflammation control

Summary

Danger signal dysregulation provides a unifying framework for understanding oral inflammatory diseases, which arise from the persistent accumulation of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), together with excessive oxidative stress-derived danger signals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), which lead to chronic activation of inflammatory pathways within the uniquely dynamic oral microenvironment. This perspective highlights emerging danger signal-removing strategies—particularly immunoengineering materials and external physical stimuli-responsive platforms—that enable upstream modulation of inflammation, reprogramming of immune and stromal cell phenotypes, and restoration of microenvironmental homeostasis. By integrating specific interactions with spatiotemporal control, next-generation biomaterials offer a mechanistically grounded and clinically adaptable approach for effective and safe management of complex oral inflammatory disorders. Together, these advances chart a path toward adaptive, precise, and personalized biomaterials tailored to address the biological and physicochemical challenges of the oral cavity.