title: Biological agents: what they are, how they affect oral health and how they can modulate oral healthcare.
abstract: Biological agents - biologics, biologicals or biopharmaceuticals - are any medicinal product manufactured in, or extracted from, a biological source. They are often generated by DNA recombinant biotechnology and several dozen therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are now marketed for a variety of indications, increasingly in the management of inflammatory immune-mediated disorders, transplantation rejection and cancer treatments. Immunomodulatory mAbs are expensive, must be given by injection or infusion and can have adverse effects but are increasingly used and can be highly effective agents. This paper reviews these agents and their increasing relevance to oral science and healthcare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Georgakopoulou
authors.affiliation: 1] WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health-General Health Co-Director London [2] Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh King James IV Professor London [3] UCL Emeritus Professor, London.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003729:Dental Care; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001685:Biological Factors