Tissue-engineered oral epithelium (ΤΕΟΕ) was developed after comparing various culture conditions, including submerged- and air-liquid interface (ALI) human cell expansion options. Barrier formation was evaluated via transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and calcein permeation via spectrofluorometry. TEOE was further assessed for long-term viability via live/dead staining and development of intercellular connections via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tissue architecture was evaluated via histochemistry and the expression of pancytokeratin (pCK) via immunohistochemistry (IHC). The effect of two commonly used dental resinous monomers on TEOE was evaluated for alterations in cell viability and barrier permeability. ALI/keratinocyte growth factor-supplemented (ALI-KGS) culture conditions led to the formation of an 8-20-layer thick, intercellularly-connected epithelial barrier. TEER values of ALI-KGS-developed TEOE decreased compared to all other tested conditions, and the established epithelium intensively expressed pCK. Exposure to dental monomers affected the integrity and architecture of TEOE, and induced cellular vacuolation, implicating hydropic degeneration. Despite structural modifications, the permeability of TEOE was not substantially affected after exposure to the monomers. In conclusion, the biological properties of the TEOE mimicking the physiological functional conditions and its value as biocompatibility assessment tool for dental materials were characterized.

In the present study, a customized device (Epi-ExPer) was designed and fabricated to facilitate an epithelial organ culture, allowing for controlled exposure to exogenous chemical stimuli and accommodating the evaluation of permeation of the tissue after treatment. The Epi-ExPer system was fabricated using a stereolithography (SLA)-based additive manufacturing (AM) method. Human and porcine oral epithelial mucosa tissues were inserted into the device and exposed to resinous monomers commonly released by dental restorative materials. The effect of these xenobiotics on the morphology, viability, permeability, and expression of relevant markers of the oral epithelium was evaluated. Tissue culture could be performed with the desired orientation of air-liquid interface (ALI) conditions, and exposure to xenobiotics was undertaken in a spatially guarded and reproducible manner. Among the selected monomers, HEMA and TEGDMA reduced tissue viability at high concentrations, while tissue permeability was increased by the latter. Xenobiotics affected the histological image by introducing the vacuolar degeneration of epithelial cells and increasing the expression of panCytokeratin (pCK). Epi-ExPer device offers a simple, precise, and reproducible study system to evaluate interactions of oral mucosa with external stimuli, providing a biocompatibility and permeability assessment tool aiming to an enhanced in vitro/ex vivo-to-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) that complies with European Union (EU) and Food and Durg Administration (FDI) policies.

Background/Objectives: Antiseptic gels applied at the implant–abutment interface (IAI) aim to reduce microbial leakage and peri-implant inflammation. However, introducing viscous media into a precision screw joint may affect tribology, preload maintenance, mechanical stability and corrosion-related processes. This scoping review mapped evidence on chlorhexidine (CHX) and other IAI gels, considering their biological, mechanical and electrochemical effects. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR and a Population–Concept–Context framework, in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies of two-piece implant systems were eligible if they evaluated CHX or another sealing gel at the IAI and reported microbial, mechanical or electrochemical outcomes. English-language full texts published between 2015 and 2025 were identified through PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, ScienceDirect and reference screening. Findings were synthesised qualitatively within “Guardian” (biological protection) and “Hazard” (mechanical or electrochemical effects) domains. Results: Of 241 records, 16 met the inclusion criteria. CHX gels reduced intra-implant bacterial counts, although their sealing effect was limited and time-dependent. Silicone-based sealants generally achieved better microbial leakage control and, in several studies, maintained or increased reverse torque values compared with dry controls. Conversely, aqueous or oil-based antiseptic agents frequently reduced reverse torque, suggesting lubrication-related effects on screw-joint stability. No study directly quantified tribocorrosion associated with specific gels. Conclusions: IAI gels may provide biological protection, but their effects depend on formulation and are not exclusively antimicrobial. Silicone-based materials demonstrated the most favourable combined microbial and mechanical performance. Tribocorrosion remains insufficiently investigated, highlighting the need for integrated microbial, mechanical and electrochemical studies.

Bone healing, remodeling, and pathology are strongly regulated by mechanical stimulation. However, conventional two-dimensional (2D) in vitro culture systems fail to reproduce the complex mechanical and biological microenvironment of human bone, limiting their translational relevance. In recent years, bone-on-chip (BoC) platforms, as part of the broader organ-on-chip (OoC) technology, have emerged as advanced microfluidic systems that enable the study of bone biology under dynamic and highly controlled conditions that more closely mimic in vivo physiology. This systematic review aimed to gather the available in vitro evidence on mechanically stimulated BoC models, with a particular focus on osteogenic differentiation outcomes and the technical characteristics underlying these platforms. Following a comprehensive literature search and structured data extraction, biological parameters (cell types, culture conditions, scaffolds), chip design and fabrication strategies, mechanical loading modalities, and assessment assays were systematically analyzed. Across the included studies, fluid shear stress was the most frequently applied mechanical stimulus and was generally associated with enhanced osteogenic differentiation compared with static cultures, although substantial heterogeneity was observed in loading protocols and outcome measures. Overall, this review provides a consolidated technical and biological overview of mechanically stimulated BoC systems and highlights key methodological considerations for future platform development. By integrating microengineering approaches with bone and stem cell biology, BoC models hold significant potential for advancing bone tissue engineering, mechanobiology research, and translational applications, including dentistry-related bone regeneration and biomaterial testing.