Biofunctional sealant with peptides to extend lifespans of Class V restorations

V类牙齿修复体位于牙齿的下三分之一，是最不耐用的牙齿修复类型，由于社会迅速老龄化，其置入量正在迅速增加。水和细菌对牙本质/修复体界面的破坏是失败的主要原因。保持修复材料和周围组织之间的完整性是一种未知的方法，可以提高V类修复体的寿命，保护脆弱的粘结剂界面免受细菌介导的降解，促进修复稳定性，并增加修复美学。由于目前的修复材料缺乏任何旨在影响组织反应的活性，因此不会发生组织附着到当前V类修复表面的情况。这种附着性的缺乏暴露了牙本质/修复体的脆弱界面，并加剧了V类失败。V类修复体附近的功能组织可能能够自然地防止龈下菌斑，并通过利用这些组织来延长寿命。我们的中心目标是开发新材料并应用实验方法来减少V类故障。在目标1中，我们的目标是了解负责信号传递的口腔细胞激活，并测试候选分子在酶降解中生存的能力。在目标2中，我们将展示我们的系统能够实现生物兼容、方便、快速和强大的生物功能分子输送到材料表面，并通过一系列旨在模拟口腔环境的挑战来保留分子。这一结果可能会延长V类牙科修复材料的寿命，并降低长期医疗成本。这笔培训补助金将提供学习技术的关键机会，包括流式细胞术、高分辨率X射线光电子能谱和分子生物学技术。对这些技术的更好理解将进一步推动我成为一名牙科学校的独立学术研究人员。

Class V dental restorations, those on the lower third of the tooth, are the least durable type of dental restoration and are quickly increasing in placement due to a rapidly aging society. Water and bacteria mediated destruction of the dentin/restoration interface is the main cause of failure. Maintenance of integrity between the restorative material and surrounding tissue is an unexplored route to increase lifespans of Class V restorations to shield the vulnerable adhesive interface from bacteria-mediated degradation, promote restoration stability, and increase restoration aesthetics. Tissue attachment to current Class V restorative surfaces does not occur as current restorative materials lack any activity designed to influence tissue responses. This lack of attachment reveals the vulnerable dentin/restoration interface and exacerbates Class V failure. Functional tissues near Class V restorations may be able to naturally prevent subgingival plaque and lead to longer lifespans by exploiting the tissue. Our central goal is to develop new materials and apply experimental approaches toward reducing Class V failure. In Aim 1, we aim to understand oral cellular activation responsible for signaling and test candidate molecules for their ability to survive enzymatic degradation. In Aim 2, we will demonstrate our system enables biocompatible, facile, rapid, and robust delivery of biofunctional molecules to the material surface and retains molecules through a series of challenges meant to simulate the oral environment. The results will potentially extend lifespans of Class V dental restorative materials and reduce longterm healthcare costs. This training grant will provide pivotal opportunities to learn techniques including flow cytometry, high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Improved understanding of these techniques will further my progress toward becoming an independent academic researcher at a dental school.