Tooth-binding micelles for dental caries prevention

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oral Microbiology

Background:

• Effective local antimicrobial concentration on tooth surfaces is crucial for managing oral cariogenic bacteria.
• Current strategies for antimicrobial delivery in the oral cavity face challenges in maintaining sustained local concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel tooth-binding micellar drug delivery platform for enhanced antimicrobial efficacy.
• To investigate the ability of modified Pluronic copolymers to bind to tooth surfaces and release encapsulated antimicrobials.

Main Methods:

• Biocompatible Pluronic copolymers were functionalized with alendronate, a biomineral-binding moiety.
• Micelles were formulated with the modified copolymers and characterized for size, charge, and binding kinetics to hydroxyapatite (HA).
• In vitro studies assessed the biofilm inhibition efficacy of encapsulated farnesol against Streptococcus mutans UA159 on HA discs.

Main Results:

• The alendronate-modified Pluronic micelles demonstrated rapid (<1 min) binding to HA, a model tooth surface.
• The micelles exhibited a negative charge and an average hydrodynamic diameter below 100 nm.
• Farnesol-loaded micelles significantly inhibited Streptococcus mutans UA159 biofilm formation compared to control micelles (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• A novel tooth-binding micellar drug delivery system has been successfully developed.
• This platform shows potential for sustained antimicrobial release and effective inhibition of cariogenic biofilm formation.
• Further optimization could lead to a valuable tool for dental caries prevention and treatment.