The treatments generally employed for temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) involve physical therapy and chemotherapy, etc., whose therapeutic efficacies are impaired by the side effects and suboptimal stimulus responsiveness. Although the intra-articular drug delivery system (DDS) has shown effectiveness in addressing osteoarthritis, there is currently little reported research regarding the use of stimuli-responsive DDS in managing TMJOA. Herein, we prepared a novel near-infrared (NIR) light-sensitive DDS (DS-TD/MPDA) by using mesoporous polydopamine nanospheres (MPDA) as NIR responders and drug carriers; diclofenac sodium (DS) as the anti-inflammatory medication; and 1-tetradecanol (TD) with a phase-inversion temperature of 39 °C as the drug administrator. Upon exposure to 808 nm NIR laser, DS-TD/MPDA could raise the temperature up to the melting point of TD through photothermal conversion, and intelligently trigger DS release. The resultant nanospheres exhibited an excellent photothermal effect and effectively controlled the release of DS through laser irradiation to accommodate the multifunctional therapeutic effect. More importantly, the biological evaluation of DS-TD/MPDA for TMJOA treatment was also performed for the first time. The experiments’ results demonstrated that DS-TD/MPDA displayed a good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo during metabolism. After injection into the TMJ of rats afflicted with TMJOA induced by unilateral anterior crossbite for 14 days, DS-TD/MPDA could alleviate the deterioration of TMJ cartilage, thus ameliorating osteoarthritis. Therefore, DS-TD/MPDA could be a promising candidate for photothermal-chemotherapy for TMJOA.

Cartilage tissue, encompassing hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage, and elastic cartilage, plays a pivotal role in the human body due to its unique composition, structure, and biomechanical properties. However, the inherent avascularity and limited regenerative capacity of cartilage present significant challenges to its healing following injury. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of cartilage tissue engineering, focusing on the critical components of cell sources, scaffolds, and growth factors tailored to the regeneration of each cartilage type.We explore the similarities and differences in the composition, structure, and biomechanical properties of the three cartilage types and their implications for tissue engineering. A significant emphasis is placed on innovative strategies for cartilage regeneration, including the potential for in situ transformation of cartilage types through microenvironmental manipulation, which may offer novel avenues for repair and rehabilitation.The review underscores the necessity of a nuanced approach to cartilage tissue engineering, recognizing the distinct requirements of each cartilage type while exploring the potential of transforming one cartilage type into another as a flexible and adaptive repair strategy. Through this detailed examination, we aim to broaden the understanding of cartilage tissue engineering and inspire further research and development in this promising field.

Background: The treatment options for anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are conservative and surgical treatments; however, current therapeutic strategies for ADDwoR remain highly heterogeneous. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these two treatment options in symptom alleviation and orofacial functional restoration. Methods: The age of the patients was 18 years or older, and they underwent treatment for ADDwoR of the TMJ from December 2022 to February 2024, with patients providing 12-month follow-up data on pain, mouth-opening capacity, and chewing efficiency. The difference in the change in joint pain levels between the two methods was assessed from the baseline to the 12-month follow-up period. Mouth-opening capacity and chewing efficiency were assessed by pain-free maximum mouth opening and the TMJ chewing function self-test. Results: A total of 218 participants [mean (SD) age = 31.9 (12.9) years; 195 (89%) women] were included in this study, and the conservative treatment group and surgical treatment group included 123 individuals [mean (SD) age = 32.9 (12.7) years; 113 (92%) women] and 95 individuals [mean (SD) age = 30.6 (13.1) years; 82 (86%) women], respectively. Both the conservative treatments [mean change =− 2.45 (95% CI = −3.031 to −1.864) points] and surgical treatments [mean change =− 2.24 (95% CI −2.867 to −1.603) points] resulted in a clinically important pain reduction at 12 months. However, there was no significant difference in the effects of conservative and surgical treatments on pain reduction ( P = 0.5737). The results of the secondary outcomes were mostly in line with those of the primary outcomes. Interestingly, among middle-aged and elderly patients with limited mouth opening, surgical treatments demonstrated a superior restoration of mouth-opening capacity compared to conservative treatments ( P = 0.0049). Conclusions: In this cohort study of individuals with ADDwoR of the TMJ, both conservative and surgical treatments significantly improved clinically relevant pain, mouth-opening capacity and chewing efficiency in patients. And surgical intervention demonstrated superior efficacy in enhancing mouth opening among middle-aged and elderly patient.