L1 Peptide–Conjugated Fibrin Hydrogels Promote Salivary Gland Regeneration:

Hyposalivation contributes to dental caries, periodontitis, and microbial infections. Additionally, it impairs activities of daily living (e.g., speaking, chewing, and swallowing). Treatments for hyposalivation are currently limited to medications (e.g., the muscarinic receptor agonists pilocarpine and cevimeline) that induce saliva secretion from residual acinar cells and the use of saliva substitutes. However, given that these therapies provide only temporary relief, the development of alternative treatments to restore gland function is essential. Previous studies demonstrated that laminin 1 (L1) is critical for intact salivary cell cluster formation and organization. However, the full L1 sequence is not suitable for clinical applications, as each protein domain may contribute to unwanted effects, such as degradation, tumorigenesis, and immune responses that, when compounded, outweigh the potential benefits provided by their sum. Although the L1 peptides YIGSR and A99 linked to fibrin hydrogels (FHs) pr...