Development of an ex vivo buccal mucosal model for understanding the biology of oral health

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In this project it is proposed to collect porcine oral mucosal tissue as a by-product of the food industry and in a similar manner as for skin, develop a robust ex vivo oral mucosal model1-3 that maintains healthy buccal tissue over an extended period suitable for investigating oral healthcare materials. The approach to be taken here will involve: (i) Collection of porcine oral mucosal tissue (ii) Identification of suitable media to maintain the viability of the tissue (iii) Confirmation of barrier function properties of the model (iv) Assessment of tissue biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. In the longer term the model should allow the study of biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in oral tissues and new insights into how the oral mucosal cavity responds to application of specific formulations. Ultimately the project should delivery new information concerning strategies to promote and maintain barrier function and support oral health. This project will establish new models of the oral epithelium for rapid development and screening of formulations for management of oral health and will be of considerable interest to academia and industry.