Effect of antimicrobial nanoemulsions on oral biofilms

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议工作的总体目标是确定有效破坏或阻止与龋齿相关的口腔生物膜形成和生长的最佳纳米乳配方，并了解其破坏所涉及的机制。龋齿在人群中的发病率仍然很高。美国成年人平均有10到17颗蛀牙、缺牙或补牙。纳米乳液是一种含有表面活性剂的水包油乳液（液滴大小400-800纳米），对动物无毒，但对自由漂浮形式的细菌、真菌、病毒和孢子非常有效。具体目标1：确定最佳纳米乳配方，以防止体外混合生物膜的形成和生长，并破坏混合生物膜的存在。具体目标2：在一项涉及大鼠的研究中，研究选定纳米乳的有效性。特异性目标3：评估生物膜在口腔中可能存在的不同生理条件下（高-低蔗糖、高-低铁、高-低渗透压、高-低氧）生长时对纳米乳的体外敏感性，并研究生物膜结构和群落特征的变化。纯培养和确定的混合生物培养中的变形链球菌都将进行研究。专项目的4：确定纳米乳对变形链球菌的作用机制。这项工作具有创新性，因为抗菌纳米乳对口腔常见生物膜的影响尚未被研究过。我的目标是成为一名学术生物材料科学家，在口腔内生物膜的治疗和预防方面进行独立的研究，并研究其破坏的机制。我已经成功地在UTHSCSA和Texas State University找到了这个跨学科项目的专家合作者。K08奖将使我获得必要的微生物学和分子生物学背景和实验室技术，以成功完成拟议的工作，也将使我在过渡到独立的研究生涯中利用师友的好处。本研究探讨了一种预防蛀牙的新方法。成功可以缓解这个影响大多数人的问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad objective of the proposed work is to determine optimum nanoemulsion formulations that effectively disrupt or prevent the formation and growth of oral biofilms associated with dental caries, and also to understand the mechanisms involved in their disruption. The incidence of dental caries in the population is still high. The average adult in the U.S. has from 10 to 17 decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth. Nanoemulsions are surfactant-containing oil-in-water emulsions (droplet size 400-800 nm) that are non-toxic to animals but very effective against bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores in their free-floating form. Specific Aim 1: Determine optimum nanoemulsion formulations that prevent the formation and growth of, and disrupt the presence of mixed-organism biofilms in vitro. Specific Aim 2: Investigate the effectiveness of selected nanoemulsions in a study involving rats. Specific Aim 3: Evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of biofilms to nanoemulsions when biofilms are grown under varying physiological conditions likely to be present in the oral cavity (high-low sucrose, high-low iron, high-low osmolarity, high-low oxygen), and also investigate changes in biofilm structure and community profiles. Both S. mutans in pure culture and defined mixed-organism cultures will be investigated. Specific Aim 4: Determine the mechanism of action of the nanoemulsion effect on S. mutans. The proposed work is innovative because the effects of antimicrobial nanoemulsions on biofilms common to the oral cavity have not been investigated. My goal is to be an academic biomaterials scientist with an independent research effort in the treatment and prevention of intra-oral biofilms, and the investigation of mechanisms involved in their disruption. I have successfully found expert collaborators at UTHSCSA and Texas State University for this interdisciplinary project. A K08 award will allow me to acquire the necessary microbiology and molecular biology background and laboratory techniques to successfully complete the proposed work, and will also allow me to utilize the benefits of mentoring during the transition to an independent research career. This research studies a new method of preventing tooth decay. Success may alleviate this problem, which affects a majority of people.