Artificial Mucin-based Saliva Preparations - Physicochemical and Tribological Properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Rheology
• Corrosion Science

Background:

• Natural saliva plays crucial roles in oral health, lubrication, and protection.
• Deficiencies in saliva (xerostomia) significantly impact oral well-being and prosthetic device function.
• Developing effective saliva substitutes is essential for managing oral health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and evaluate artificial saliva substitutes utilizing mucin.
• To compare the properties of mucin-based substitutes with natural human saliva.
• To investigate the influence of additives like guar gum and poloxamer 407 on substitute characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of saliva substitutes using porcine gastric mucin, guar gum, or poloxamer 407 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or plasma-treated PBS (PBSPT).
• Characterization of physicochemical properties (pH, conductivity, surface tension) over time.
• Assessment of rheological (viscosity, viscoelasticity), tribological (friction coefficient), and corrosive (electrochemical) behaviors.

Main Results:

• Mucin-only saliva preparations exhibited properties comparable to natural saliva in terms of pH, viscosity, friction, and corrosion.
• Guar gum and poloxamer 407 increased viscosity and friction, with poloxamer 407 reducing surface tension.
• Plasma-treated PBS improved the corrosion resistance of substitutes containing guar gum and poloxamer 407.

Conclusions:

• Saliva substitutes based solely on mucin demonstrate the most similarity to human whole saliva.
• Mucin-based saliva preparations show potential for clinical applications, particularly for patients with xerostomia or those using metal prostheses.