Effect of antimicrobial nanoemulsions on oral biofilms

描述(由申请人提供)：拟议工作的广泛目标是确定能够有效破坏或防止与龋齿相关的口腔生物膜的形成和生长的最佳纳米乳剂配方，并了解破坏口腔生物膜的机制。人口中的龋齿发病率仍然很高。在美国，成年人平均有10到17颗龋齿、缺失或充填的恒牙。纳米乳液是含有表面活性剂的水包油乳液(液滴大小为400-800 nm)，对动物无毒，但对细菌、真菌、病毒和自由漂浮的孢子非常有效。具体目标1：确定最佳纳米乳液配方，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，调查选定的纳米乳剂的有效性。具体目标3：评估生物膜在口腔中可能存在的不同生理条件(高-低蔗糖、高-低铁、高-低渗透压、高-低氧)下生长时对纳米乳液的体外敏感性，并调查生物膜结构和群落结构的变化。我们将对纯培养和混合培养中的变形链球菌进行调查。具体目标4：确定纳米乳对变形链球菌的作用机制。这项拟议的工作是创新的，因为抗菌纳米乳液对口腔常见生物膜的影响尚未被调查。我的目标是成为一名学术生物材料科学家，在治疗和预防口腔内生物膜以及调查其破坏机制方面做出独立研究。我已经成功地在UTHSCSA和德克萨斯州立大学找到了这个跨学科项目的专家合作者。K08奖项将使我获得成功完成拟议工作所需的微生物学和分子生物学背景和实验室技术，还将使我在过渡到独立研究生涯的过程中利用指导的好处。这项研究研究了一种预防龋齿的新方法。成功可能会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.