Advances in Tissue engineering for Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction (OMFS).

Tissue engineering in oral and maxillofacial surgery represents a burgeoning field aimed at addressing the complex challenges associated with reconstructing tissues affected by congenital defects, tumor resection, trauma, osteonecrosis, and infection. These defects can significantly impair patients' quality of life by affecting essential functions such as speech, mastication, and deglutition, as well as causing psychological distress due to facial disfigurement. Traditional reconstructive surgery, while effective, has notable limitations including the need for supplementary operations, donor site morbidity, limited tissue availability, and unpredictable resorption. Recent advances in tissue engineering offer a promising alternative, leveraging the principles of engineering and life sciences to develop biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function. Despite significant progress, there remain gaps in fully understanding and optimizing the integration of engineered tissues in clinical settings, necessitating further research and innovation.

This research topic aims to explore the latest advancements in tissue engineering as applied to oral and maxillofacial surgery. The primary objectives include investigating the efficacy of various tissue engineering approaches, understanding the underlying biological mechanisms, and developing new technologies to enhance tissue regeneration and integration. Specific questions to be addressed include the effectiveness of growth factors and bone morphogenic proteins in tissue regeneration, the potential of drug delivery systems using nanoparticles and liposomes, and the role of gene therapy and induced pluripotent stem cells in repairing and regenerating maxillofacial tissues.

To gather further insights into the boundaries and potential of tissue engineering in oral and maxillofacial surgery, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Applications of growth factors for maxillofacial defects
- Use of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) in tissue regeneration
- Drug delivery using nanoparticles and liposomes in oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Gene therapy in the repair of radiation-damaged salivary glands
- Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in the regeneration of maxillofacial bone defects
- Exosomes in oral and maxillofacial surgery
- 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering

Keywords: Tissue Engineering, Stem cell, Growth Factors, Tissue regeneration, Reconstructive Surgery, Maxillofacial region

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.