Advances and New Technologies Towards Clinical Application of Oral Stem Cells and Their Secretome
1Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
2Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
3University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
4Medical University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany
5University of Laval, Québec City, Canada
Advances and New Technologies Towards Clinical Application of Oral Stem Cells and Their Secretome
Description
Oral and dental diseases are major public health problems worldwide, with a profound effect on quality of life. Recent progress in tissue engineering has raised great hopes for innovative alternative therapies based on regeneration strategies of tissues in the whole craniofacial area. The discovery and characterization of stem cells (SCs) from various oral sources together with the cutting edge research of recent years in understanding their biology have enhanced our knowledge of the complex role of SCs in developmental/repair processes. The application of this knowledge in translational studies has been a decisive milestone in bringing these technologies closer to clinical application. Amazing technological advances have provided valuable tools in translating scientific advances into clinical settings. Finally, establishment of good manufacturing practice-GMP protocols according to European regulations has facilitated feasibility and “proof-of-concept” clinical trials on the application of oral SCs in orofacial tissue regeneration. Most recently, the possibility of using the plethora of secreted throphic and immunomodulatory cytokines produced by SCs (secretome) as a therapeutic surrogate module for cells has been proposed as a safer alternative to stem cell transplantation, raising the therapeutic dilemma: stem cell or secretome therapy?
We are soliciting high quality original research as well as review articles focusing on advances and new technologies towards understanding the activation, recruitment, and clinical application of oral SCs and their secretome.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Translational research towards regeneration of various oral tissues, such as dental (dentin, pulp, and periodontal ligament), orofacial bones, salivary glands, oral mucosa, and temporomandibular joint condylar cartilage
- Application of oral SCs to other areas of medicine, such as revascularization/reinnervation of damaged tissues and regeneration of muscle, bone, tendon, cartilage, or other tissues, such as cornea (e.g., using oral epithelial SCs), and pancreas (e.g., using salivary gland SCs)
- Topics related to new technologies for oral tissue regeneration, such as design of novel, customized scaffolds by means of bioprinting, optimization of microenvironments using bioreactor technologies, and single cell or whole niche analysis by microfluidics or other relevant topics
- Clinical research on application of oral SCs and their secretome, including feasibility and “proof-of-concept” studies, new methodological paradigms that challenge current thinking in clinical research, and development of clinical-grade oral SCs under GMP conditions as an essential step towards clinical application or other relevant topics