SBIR Phase II: Innovations in Nanoscale Manufacturing: Nanomaterial Composites for Dental Restorations

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目旨在开发用于生产牙科用纳米复合材料的纳米制造方法。纳米复合材料在牙科中显示出巨大的前景，但由于缺乏可靠的制造方法来大规模制备它们，因此应用有限。 这个第二阶段项目旨在开发一种新的，高效和低成本的方法来制造这些材料，使它们能够在纳米级的单个组件中组装。 该工艺生产具有增加的功能性的高度均匀的纳米材料。 这些材料同时具有多个性能增强，例如不透射线性（辅助诊断能力）、高强度和耐久性以及改进的光学性能。 这项技术可以进一步利用，以扩大市场机会，进入邻近的细分市场，在成本限制，限制了采用先进的纳米复合材料。更广泛的影响/商业潜力，这个项目是提供纳米材料复合材料，改善功能的牙科和生物医学植入物。预计该技术将促进医疗植入材料更好地融入人体，提高耐用性和使用寿命，并帮助诊断，最终降低翻修手术率并改善患者结局。 在牙科清洁剂方面，这些材料提供了改进的美学，增强的诊断不透射线性，以及最先进的强度和耐用性。 拟议产品的开发和成熟将对牙科行业产生重大影响，使牙医能够更好地诊断复发性龋齿，这将改善临床结果，并最终减少临床翻修/更换手术的发生。 与新工艺相关的成本节约将增加公众获得最高质量牙科治疗的机会。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop nanomanufacturing methods for producing nanocomposites for use in dentistry. Nanocomposites have shown great promise in dentistry but have limited applications because of the lack of reliable manufacturing methods to prepare them at scale. This Phase II project seeks to develop a new, highly-efficient and low-cost approach to the manufacture of these materials that allows their assembly from the individual components at the nanoscale. The process produces highly homogeneous nanomaterials with increased functionality. These materials simultaneously have multiple property enhancements such as radiopacity (aiding diagnostic capabilities), high strength and durability, and improved optical properties. This technology can be further leveraged to expand market opportunities into adjacent segments where cost constraints have limited the adoption of advanced nanocomposites.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to provide nanomaterial composites that improve the function of dental restorations and of biomedical implants. The technology is anticipated to facilitate medical implant materials that better integrate into the human body, improve durability and use-life, and aid diagnosis, ultimately reducing the rate of revision procedures and improving patient outcomes. In the context of dental restoratives, these materials offer improved aesthetics, enhanced radiopacity for diagnostics, and state-of-the art strength and durability. The development and maturation of the proposed products will have significant impact upon the dental industry, allowing dentists to better diagnose recurrent caries, which will improve clinical outcomes and ultimately reduce the occurrence of clinical revision/replacement procedures. The cost savings associated with the new process will increase access of the general public to the highest quality dental restorations.