Pioneering next-generation bioactive materials for endodontics: Insights of mitochondrial biology.

Abstract

Endodontics, a vital discipline in dental medicine, focuses on pulp health preservation, disease treatment, and tissue regeneration, critically dependent on bioactive materials for therapeutic success. Conventional bioactive materials primarily focus on cellular-scale interactions, but with the advent of precision medicine, emerging evidence demonstrates that certain key organelles can influence disease progression by regulating cell fate. Mitochondria, beyond their energy-producing role, are central to cellular signaling, metabolic regulation, and inflammatory responses, profoundly impacting pulp cell survival, differentiation, and adaptation to pathological conditions such as hypoxia or inflammation. Therefore, this leading opinion paper synthesizes cutting-edge insights into mitochondrial biology and their implications for endodontics, proposing a shift in bioactive material design. Firstly, the pivotal roles of mitochondria in core cells relevant to endodontics is delinated. Subsequently, how existing endodontic materials impact mitochondria is described. Afterwards, the latest advances in mitochondria-based bioactive materials for endodontics are analyzed. Finally, the potential to pioneer next-generation endodontic bioactive materials through mitochondrial biology is explored. This paper aims to provide new possibilities for developing more advanced endodontic bioactive materials at the subcellular level.