Bioadhesive Strategies for Oral Mucosal Healing

Oral mucosal wounds present a persistent clinical challenge due to constant moisture, mechanical stress and microbial colonisation. Bioadhesive systems have emerged as a promising approach to overcome rapid wash-out and to provide sustained delivery of therapeutic agents. These strategies encompass a range of polymeric patches, films and hydrogels that form intimate contact with the wet oral surface through hydrogen bonding, covalent interactions or catechol-inspired chemistries. By ensuring prolonged residence time, such materials support a favourable microenvironment characterised by reduced inflammation, balanced microbiota and accelerated tissue regeneration. Key mechanisms include protection of the wound bed, controlled release of anti-inflammatory or pro-regenerative factors and mechanical support for re-epithelialisation and new vessel formation. Recent advances have focused on stimuli-responsive systems that adapt to changes in moisture or pH, and on multifunctional composites that combine adhesion with antimicrobial or oxygen-modulating capabilities. Collectively, these innovations are driving a shift from frequent topical ointments towards precision bioadhesive therapies capable of enhancing patient comfort and clinical outcomes in diverse settings, from aphthous ulcers to diabetic mucosal lesions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the power of dual-component elastomeric patches that exploit synergistic polymer interactions for robust water-activated adhesion and sustained delivery of bioactive small molecules. One platform employs a binary coenzyme-derived elastomer where interpolymer hydrogen bonds prevent premature disassembly, enabling prolonged retention on oral ulcers in animal models and promoting angiogenesis alongside re-epithelialisation. Another approach draws inspiration from mussel adhesion, integrating catechol-rich polymers into thin mucoadhesive films. These films adhere strongly under wet conditions via both physical entanglement and covalent linkages with mucin, while nanoparticle additives enhance transport across the mucosal barrier and boost local drug bioavailability and wound closure rates. Together, these foundational works highlight design principles for durable adhesion and multifunctional healing in challenging oral environments.

Bioadhesive Strategies for Oral Mucosal Healing publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioadhesive strategies for oral mucosal healing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bioadhesion: The ability of a material to adhere to biological tissues through physical or chemical interactions.

Mucoadhesion: A subset of bioadhesion where a material specifically binds to mucosal surfaces via hydrogen bonding, electrostatic forces or covalent bonding.

Hydrogel: A three-dimensional network of hydrophilic polymers capable of retaining large amounts of water while maintaining structural integrity.

Re-epithelialisation: The process by which epithelial cells migrate and proliferate to restore the integrity of a wounded mucosal surface.

Angiogenesis: Formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, critical for supplying nutrients and oxygen during tissue repair.

References

1. A self-stabilized and water-responsive deliverable coenzyme-based polymer binary elastomer adhesive patch for treating oral ulcer. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Ferric Iron/Shikonin Nanoparticle‐Embedded Hydrogels with Robust Adhesion and Healing Functions for Treating Oral Ulcers in Diabetes. Advanced Science (2024).
3. A mussel-inspired film for adhesion to wet buccal tissue and efficient buccal drug delivery. Nature Communications (2021).
4. In situ photo-crosslinked hydrogel promotes oral mucosal wound healing through sustained delivery of ginsenoside Rg1. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2023).
5. MXene‐Integrated Responsive Hydrogel Microneedles for Oral Ulcers Healing. Smart Medicine (2025).