Biofunctional sealant with peptides to extend lifespans of Class V restorations

V类牙齿修复，即位于牙齿下三分之一处的牙齿修复，是最不耐用的牙齿修复类型，由于快速老龄化的社会，其位置正在迅速增加。水和细菌介导的牙本质/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探索的途径，可以增加V类修复体的寿命，以保护脆弱的粘合剂界面免受细菌介导的降解，提高修复体稳定性，并增加修复体美观性。目前的V类修复表面不会发生组织附着，因为目前的修复材料缺乏任何旨在影响组织反应的活性。这种缺乏附着揭示了脆弱的牙本质/修复界面，并加剧了V类失败。接近V类牙菌斑的功能组织可能能够自然地防止龈下菌斑，并通过利用该组织来延长寿命。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导的口腔细胞活化，并测试候选分子在酶降解中存活的能力。在目标2中，我们将证明我们的系统能够将生物功能分子生物相容，轻松，快速和稳健地递送到材料表面，并通过一系列旨在模拟口腔环境的挑战保留分子。研究结果可能会延长V类牙科修复材料的使用寿命，并降低长期医疗成本。这项培训补助金将提供关键的机会，学习技术，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。提高对这些技术的理解将进一步推动我成为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.