Biofunctional sealant with peptides to extend lifespans of Class V restorations

第五类牙齿修复体，即牙齿下三分之一的修复体，是最不耐用的牙齿修复体类型，由于快速老龄化的社会，其放置量正在迅速增加。水和细菌介导的牙本质/修复界面破坏是失败的主要原因。维持修复材料与周围组织之间的完整性是一种未被探索的途径，可以延长V类修复体的寿命，保护脆弱的粘附界面免受细菌介导的降解，促进修复体的稳定性，并增加修复体的美观性。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在当前的V类修复表面上。缺乏附着暴露了牙本质/修复界面的脆弱，并加剧了V级失效。接近V级修复的功能组织可能能够自然地防止龈下菌斑，并通过利用组织延长寿命。我们的中心目标是开发新材料和应用实验方法来减少V级故障。在Aim 1中，我们的目标是了解负责信号传导的口服细胞激活，并测试候选分子在酶降解中存活的能力。在目标2中，我们将展示我们的系统能够实现生物相容性，方便，快速和强大的生物功能分子递送到材料表面，并通过一系列旨在模拟口腔环境的挑战来保留分子。研究结果将有可能延长V类牙科修复材料的寿命，并降低长期医疗保健费用。这项培训经费将为学习流式细胞术、高分辨率x射线光电子能谱和分子生物学技术提供关键的机会。提高对这些技术的理解将进一步推动我在牙科学校成为一名独立的学术研究员。

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.