Integrating organoids and organ-on-a-chip in dental research.

Abstract

Dental diseases exhibit high complexity and prevalence, stemming from their complex cellular composition, intricate anatomical structure, and modern lifestyle factors, while the lack of versatile preclinical models poses significant research challenges. Recent advances in organoids and organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms offer novel strategies to overcome this dilemma. Herein, this review begins with a categorization of dental organoids based on cell sources and construction strategies. Then, a detailed analysis is provided regarding the applications and limitations of various dental organoid types, including tooth germ, ameloblast, dental pulp, and periodontal ligament organoids. Subsequently, advancements in OOCs within the dental field are reviewed, with an overview of chip materials, fabrication methods, and the current research landscape of different types of microfluidic devices designed to biomimic organ-level physiological microenvironments. Finally, this review proposes that the integration of organoids and OOC into organoids-on-a-chip (OrgOC) would fully combine their dual advantages, facilitating the development of in vitro models that more closely mimic real organs. OrgOCs are expected to become powerful tools for pathophysiological studies and disease modeling, representing an underexplored treasure in the field of dental research.