Cleaning technologies for dental plaque

生物膜是嵌入在细胞外基质中的微生物群落，形成一个高度组织化的结构，导致许多人类感染。越来越多的人认识到，细胞外成分的物理特性促进了包含一系列微环境的3D多细胞结构的组装，并使其能够抵抗机械和化学清除方法。因此，理化性质影响微生物的行为和毒力，以及对化学和机械清除的耐受性。牙菌斑是一种结构和功能上有组织的生物膜，生长在牙齿表面，随着时间的推移保持稳定并因钙化而变硬。口腔护理消费者对清除硬化的牙菌斑有强烈的需求。然而，我们对生物膜力学性能的了解和措施非常有限。目的与目标：设计创新的口腔护理产品，帮助公众改善他们的健康和整体外观，本项目旨在建立对牙菌斑的物理化学特性及其形成，生长和硬化过程的机制理解，从而为开发预防/去除牙菌斑的卓越新技术奠定基础。

Biofilms are microbial communities embedded within extracellular matrix, forming a highly organized structure that causes many human infections. It is increasing recognized that the physical properties of extracellular components facilitating the assembly of 3D multicellular structures that encompass a series of microenvironments and enabling resistance to both mechanical and chemical methods of clearance. Therefore, the physico-chemical property affects microbial behaviour and virulence as well as the tolerance of chemical and mechanical clearance. Dental plaque, a structurally and functionally organised biofilm, grows on tooth surface, remains stable and hardens by calcification over time. Oral Care consumers show strong needs to clean off the hardened plaque. However, our knowledge and measures are very limited on the mechanical properties of biofilm. Aim & Objectives:To design innovative oral care products that help the general public in improving their wellbeing, and the overall appearance, this project aims to establish a mechanistic understanding of the physico-chemical properties of the dental plaque, its formation, growing and hardening process, which underpins the development of superior new technologies in prevention/removing the plaque.