Investigating the Interfacial Biochemistry of Dental Enamel by Multifunctional Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy

我们将使用沃里克大学内部开发的新型扫描离子化学显微镜（SICM）方法来测量新处理方法对釉质表面抵御弱酸侵蚀的保护作用。我们将采用的方法将使矿化过程能够比以前更详细地研究。最终目的是对龋齿的发病机制有更深入的了解，为新的预防策略或治疗方法提供见解。在第一年，我们将采用现有的技术，并给予学生实验和建模方法的经验，以允许测量有或没有膜的生物相关有机酸。在第二年，不同时间的有机酸暴露（与生物膜浓度和组成相匹配）对不同处理（来自联合利华）的影响，有和没有膜，将作为一个模型系统来评估假设。根据以往的研究，膜的存在可能会增加治疗效果，但其动力学尚不清楚。在3年级和4年级，将研究再矿化剂在保护和修复牙釉质表面中的作用。特别是，氟化物和钙基技术对牙釉质脱矿的影响将在前所未有的小长度和时间尺度上进行详细研究。

We shall use novel Scanning Ion Chemical Microscopy (SICM) methods, developed in house at Warwick, to measure the protective effects of new treatments on enamel surfaces against acid attack by weak acids. The approaches we shall adopt will enable mineralisation processes to be studied in far greater detail than has been previously possible. The ultimate aim is to generate deeper understanding of caries pathogenesis to deliver insights for new preventive strategies or therapeutic approaches. In year one, we shall adapt current techniques and give the student experience in experimental and modelling methods, to allow measurement of biologically relevant organic acids with or without pellicle. In year 2, the effect of differing times of organic acid exposure (matched to biofilm concentration and composition) to varying treatments (from Unilever), with and without pellicle, will serve as a model system to evaluate the hypothesis. Based on previous research, it is likely that the presence of pellicle will increase the efficacy of treatment, but the dynamics are unknown. In years 3 and 4, the role of remineralising agents in protecting and repairing the enamel surface will be studied. In particular, the impact of fluoride and calcium-based technologies on enamel demineralisation will be studied in detail, at unprecedentedly small length and timescales.