Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 936-948.doi: 10.12307/2025.963

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Advances in research and application of tissue engineering therapeutic strategies in oral submucous fibrosis

Yu Shiyu, Yu Sutong, Xu Yang, Zhen Xiangyan, Han Fengxuan   

  1. Orthopedics Institution of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2024-11-12 Accepted:2024-12-20 Online:2026-02-08 Published:2025-05-20
  • Contact: Han Fengxuan, MD, Professor, Orthopedics Institution of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
  • About author:Yu Shiyu, Orthopedics Institution of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Jiangsu Outstanding Youth Fund, No. BK20240020 (to HFX)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic progressive disease that is prone to malignant transformation. Traditional treatment methods are not ideal and have limitations. As an emerging discipline, tissue engineering has opened up a new path for the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE: To review the latest progress in the pathogenesis and treatment of oral submucous fibrosis, and to summarize and analyze the role and research progress of mesenchymal stem cells, bioscaffold materials, and tissue-engineered oral mucosa in oral submucous fibrosis, thereby providing ideas for the research and clinical application of tissue engineering in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.
METHODS: In October 2024, the first author used computers to search for relevant literature from January 1970 to October 2024 in PubMed and CNKI databases. The search terms were “oral submucous fibrosis, tissue engineering, mesenchymal stem cells, bioscaffold materials” in English and Chinese, respectively. A total of 166 articles were finally included for analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis is complex, and many factors are closely related to oral submucous fibrosis, but ultimately they promote the development of oral submucous fibrosis by promoting collagen deposition and accelerating fibroblast proliferation. (2) Traditional treatment methods for oral submucous fibrosis have problems such as low patient compliance and unsatisfactory results, and new treatment strategies are urgently needed. (3) Mesenchymal stem cells regulate the pathological microenvironment, reduce inflammation and inhibit the process of fibrosis due to their immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties, providing a new idea for the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis. (4) Biomass materials, as drug and cell delivery carriers, regulate the pathological microenvironment and are used in various fibrotic diseases, providing a new solution for the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis. (5) Tissue-engineered oral mucosa can be used as an autologous mucosa substitute to promote tissue repair, and also provides a basis for the establishment of disease models. (6) Tissue engineering treatment strategy has great potential for achieving comprehensive treatment of oral submucous fibrosis, but its role in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis has not yet been verified. It is of great significance to explore tissue engineering-based treatment strategies for oral submucous fibrosis in the future.

Key words: oral submucous fibrosis, tissue engineering, mesenchymal stem cells, bioscaffold, biomaterials, engineered tissue construction

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