I-Corps: Electrokinetic Drug Delivery into Dental Enamel

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种将药物或美容牙科治疗输送到牙釉质中的设备。目前，最先进的牙釉质治疗方法依赖于局部应用。然而，牙釉质的纳米孔特性抑制了小分子和药物的扩散，从而阻止了深度和快速的治疗。更深更快地将各种治疗分子(如氟化物或钾)输送到牙釉质中，可能会更好地防止牙齿腐烂或敏感。这项拟议的技术旨在增强小分子的渗透，以提供更高的疗效和/或更持久的牙科治疗。这可能会改进氟化物治疗以防止龋齿，美容美白程序，以及提供抗生素治疗牙髓炎，否则将需要根管治疗。这个i-Corps项目是基于一项技术的开发，该技术可以在牙齿的纳米通道内诱导电动流动，以驱动液体流入牙釉质。电动流动是由于存在于牙釉质纳米通道中的双电层在外加电场的驱动下产生的。通过在牙釉质上施加足够的电压，这种方法允许带电和不带电的小分子和大分子快速和深入地渗透到牙齿中。这项拟议的技术可能会对预防牙科和整形牙科产生影响。除了提供氟化物和钾治疗，拟议的技术还可以用于提供大分子物种，如牙科树脂，这可能扩大这些保护和加强非腐烂或先前酸蚀的牙齿上的物种的使用案例。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a device to deliver pharmaceutical or cosmetic dental treatments into tooth enamel. Currently, state-of-the-art treatment to enamel relies on topical application. However, the nanoporous nature of the enamel inhibits diffusion of small molecules and pharmaceuticals, which prevents deep and rapid treatments. The deeper and more rapid delivery of a diverse range of therapeutic molecules into the enamel, such as fluoride or potassium, could lead to better protection against tooth decay or sensitivity. The proposed technology is designed to enhance infiltration of small molecules to provide higher efficacy and/or longer lasting dental treatments. This may improve fluoride treatments to prevent cavities, cosmetic whitening procedures, and antibiotic delivery to treat pulpitis that would otherwise require root canal treatment. This I-Corps project is based on the development of a technology to induce electrokinetic flow within the nanochannels of the teeth to drive fluid flow into the dental enamel. Electrokinetic flow is produced as a result of the electrical double layer that exists in the nanochannels of the enamel being driven by an imposed electrical field. Through application of a sufficient voltage across the dental enamel, this method allows rapid and deep infiltration of small and large, charged and uncharged molecules into the teeth. The proposed technology may impact both preventative and cosmetic dentistry. In addition to the delivery of fluoride and potassium treatments, the proposed technology may be used for the delivery of large and macromolecular species such as dental resins, which may expand the use case for these protecting and strengthening species on non-decayed or previously acid-etched teeth.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.