By Jackson Holtz, UW News
April 12, 2018 -- Researchers at the University of Washington
The research finding was first published in ACS Biomaterials Science and
Engineering. Remineralization guided by
peptides is a healthy alternative to current dental health care,” said lead
author Mehmet Sarikaya, professor of materials science and engineering and
adjunct professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of
Oral Health Sciences.
The new biogenic dental products can — in theory — rebuild teeth and cure
cavities without today’s costly and uncomfortable treatments.
“Peptide-enabled formulations will be simple and would be implemented in
over-the-counter or clinical products,” Sarikaya said.
Cavities are more than just a nuisance. According to the World lHealth
Organization, dental cavities affect nearly every age group and they are
accompanied by serious health concerns. Additionally, direct and indirect costs
of treating dental cavities and related diseases have been a huge economic
burden for individuals and health care systems.
“Bacteria metabolize sugar and other fermentable carbohydrates in oral
environments and acid, as a by-product, will demineralize the dental enamel,”
said co-author Sami Dogan, associate professor in the Department of Restorative
Dentistry at the UW School of Dentistry.
Although tooth decay is relatively harmless in its earliest stages, once
the cavity progresses through the tooth’s enamel, serious health concerns
arise. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to tooth loss. This can present
adverse consequences on the remaining teeth and supporting tissues and on the
patient’s general health, including life-threatening conditions.
Good oral hygiene is the best prevention, and over the past half-century,
brushing and flossing have reduced significantly the impact of cavities for
many Americans. Still, some socio-economic groups suffer disproportionately
from this disease, the researchers said. And, according to recent reports from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of dental
cavities in Americans is again on the rise, suggesting a regression in the
progress of combating this disease.
Taking inspiration from the body’s own natural tooth-forming proteins, the
UW team has come up with a way to repair the tooth enamel. The researchers
accomplished this by capturing the essence of amelogenin — a protein crucial to
forming the hard crown enamel — to design amelogenin-derived peptides that
biomineralize and are the key active ingredient in the new technology. The
bioinspired repair process restores the mineral structure found in native tooth
enamel.
“These peptides are proven to bind onto tooth surfaces and recruit calcium
and phosphate ions,” said Deniz Yucesoy, a co-author and a doctoral student at
the UW.
The peptide-enabled technology allows the deposition of 10 to 50 micrometers
of new enamel on the teeth after each use. Once fully developed, the technology
can be used in both private and public health settings, in biomimetic
toothpaste, gels, solutions and composites as a safe alternative to existing
dental procedures and treatments. The technology enables people to rebuild and
strengthen tooth enamel on a daily basis as part of a preventive dental care
routine. It is expected to be safe for use by adults and children.
Co-authors are H. Fong, research scientist in the UW Department of
Materials Science and Engineering, and Greg Huang, professor and chair of
Orthodontics in the School
of Dentistry
The research was funded by the Washington State Life Sciences Discovery
Fund and the UW Department of Restorative Dentistry’s Spencer Fund.
Link with explanatory diagrams at: http://www.washington.edu/news/2018/04/12/peptide-based-biogenic-dental-product-may-cure-cavities/
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