本综述旨在全面总结季铵化合物（QACs）在口腔疾病的预防和治疗中的最新发展。通过讨论其结构多样性和潜在的杀菌机制，我们试图为未来的QAC研究提供一些见解。在电子数据库（Web of Science、PubMed、Medline和Scopus）中进行文献搜索。包括涉及QAC应用，特别是与口腔疾病的预防和治疗相关的出版物。我们回顾了过去两十年关于QACs的相关研究。研究结果表明，目前的应用主要集中在牙科材料修饰和直接药理干预上。同时，潜在的对正常组织的风险和药物抗性和微生物持续存在的障碍等挑战对应用产生一定的限制。最新研究涵盖了智能材料和纳米粒子制剂的探索。杀菌机制可能与电荷密度存在一定的阈值相关，但确切的过程仍不清楚。多样的结构和智能材料以及纳米粒子制剂的探索为新型QACs的开发提供了方向。复杂的口腔解剖结构加上多面性的口腔微生物群落，需要专门的材料来针对口腔病理的预防和治疗。QACs代表了一类具有强效抗感染和抗肿瘤特性的化合物。智能材料和纳米粒子制剂的创新扩大了其在显著推进口腔疾病的预防和治疗干预方面的潜力。版权所有 © 2023 Elsevier Ltd.

The aim of this review is to comprehensively summarize the state-of-the-art developments of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. By discussing the structural diversity and the potential killing mechanism, we try to offer some insights for the future research of QACs.A literature search was conducted in electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, and Scopus). Publications that involved the applications of QACs, especially those related to the prevention and treatment of oral diseases, are included.We have reviewed the relevant research on QACs over the past two decades. The research results indicate that the current applications are mainly focused on dental material modification and direct pharmacological interventions. Concurrently, challenges such as potential risks to normal tissues and impediments in drug resistance and microbial persistence present certain application constraints. The latest studies have encompassed the exploration of smart materials and nanoparticle formulations.The killing mechanism may possess a threshold related to charge density. However, the exact process remains enigmatic. The structural diversity and the exploration of intelligent materials and nanoparticle formulations provide directions in development of novel QACs.The intricate oral anatomy, combined with the multifaceted oral microbiome, necessitates specialized materials for the targeted prevention and treatment of oral pathologies. QACs represent a cohort of compounds distinguished by potent anti-infective and anti-tumor attributes. Innovations in intelligent materials and nanoparticle formulations amplify their potential in significantly advancing the prevention and therapeutic interventions for oral diseases.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.