Oral Health and Maxillofacial Research

ABSTRACT

Oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis represent significant global health challenges, affecting a substantial portion of the population. These conditions, driven by bacterial biofilms, can cause severe damage to the tooth-supporting tissues, leading to tooth loss and impacting overall well-being. Traditional oral antibiotics face limitations, including broad-spectrum side effects and insufficient concentration at infection sites, often resulting in antimicrobial resistance. This mini-review explores the potential of nanobots for targeted drug delivery in treating oral infections. Nanobots, ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers, can navigate the oral cavity, directly targeting bacterial biofilms and releasing antimicrobial agents in a controlled manner. This targeted approach enhances drug concentration at infection sites, reduces systemic side effects, and minimizes resistance development. Various types of nanobots, such as dentifrobots and pharmacytes, are discussed for their roles in oral healthcare. Recent advancements demonstrate the efficacy of nanobots in vitro and in vivo, highlighting their ability to eradicate biofilms and deliver drugs precisely. However, challenges such as biocompatibility, stability, and regulatory hurdles must be addressed for clinical application. Future directions include integrating multifunctional capabilities for simultaneous infection treatment and tissue repair, real-time monitoring through advanced imaging and biosensing, and personalized therapies tailored to individual microbiomes. By overcoming these challenges, nanobots have the potential to revolutionize oral healthcare, offering innovative solutions to effectively manage and treat oral infections, ultimately improving patient outcomes and overall oral health.

KEYWORDS

1. Oral health
2. Biofilms
3. Nanotechnology
4. Nanobots
5. Infection