3D-Printed Superhydrophobic-Tipped Optical Fiber for Targeted Periodontal Photodynamic Therapy

根除牙周袋中的细菌对牙医来说是一个艰巨的挑战， 口腔护理专业人员这个问题是显著的;严重牙周炎是第六大流行病 全世界有超过7.43亿人受到影响。全球生产力损失的成本， 严重牙周炎估计为540亿美元/年。抗生素与洁治和根面平整 (SRP)是目前治疗的主要手段，但可能导致耐药性的发展， 细菌光动力疗法（PDT）是一种有益的替代方案，然而， 其植入的几个挑战包括组织染色和短的穿透深度 因为染料被直接引入牙周袋以及长的治疗时间 因为缺氧区缺氧因此，迫切需要在以下方面取得进一步进展： 牙周细菌根除 SingletO 2 Therapeutics开发的超疏水光纤PDT（SH-PDT）器械尖端 LLC以一种可降解的方式递送杀菌性单线态氧（1 O2，分子氧的细胞毒性激发态）。 直接可控的方式该装置是精确输送反应性药物的重大突破。 单线态氧杀灭缺氧细菌治疗牙周病。采用精密成型 和3D打印技术，该设备将敏化剂集成到光纤的尖端， 可以无痛地插入牙齿和牙龈之间杀死细菌，这些细菌是导致 牙周炎我们的超疏水设计可以防止生物流体和致敏剂接触， 消除了染色。此外，牙周袋的消毒将在一次访问中实现 由于超疏水系统捕集空气的效率， 否则就是缺氧环境。这种方法也不会诱导细菌耐药性， 对革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌同样有效。 在这个II期STTR项目中，我们建议以两种方式研究SH-PDT设备的有效性。 首先，我们将量化该装置在体外杀死细菌生物膜的能力，该生物膜由以下组成： 三种不同的细菌菌株与牙周炎有关。其次，我们将量化 该装置使用Wistar大鼠结扎模型在体内杀死牙周炎。一项试点研究将 进行，以确定适当的剂量，然后进行全面的研究，以获得统计学 显著的结果。这些研究的成功结果将用于设计人体临床试验 在未来

Eradication of bacteria located in periodontal pockets presents a daunting challenge to dentists and oral care professionals. The problem is significant; severe periodontitis is the 6th most prevalent disease worldwide with over 743 million people affected. The global cost of lost productivity from severe periodontitis is estimated to be $54 billion USD/year. Antibiotics with scaling and root planing (SRP) have been the mainstays of current treatments but may lead to the development of antibioticresistant bacteria. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a beneficial alternative, however, there are several challenges to its implantation including staining of tissue and a short penetration depth because the dye is introduced directly into the periodontal pocket as well as long treatment times due lack of oxygen in hypoxic pockets. Thus, there is an urgent need for further advances in periodontal bacteria eradication. The superhydrophobic fiber optic PDT (SH-PDT) device tip developed by SingletO2 Therapeutics LLC delivers bactericidal singlet oxygen (1O2, a cytotoxic excited state of molecular oxygen) in a direct, controllable fashion. This device is a major breakthrough for the precise delivery of reactive singlet oxygen to kill hypoxic bacteria for treatment of periodontal diseases. Using precision molding and 3D printing technologies, the device integrates a sensitizer onto the tip of an optical fiber that can painlessly be inserted between the tooth and gum killing bacteria which are the cause of periodontitis. Our superhydrophobic design prevents contact between biofluids and the sensitizer, eliminating staining. Moreover, disinfection of the periodontal pocket will be achieved in a single visit due to the efficiency of the superhydrophobic system to trap air, which will provide oxygen to otherwise hypoxic environments. The approach will also not induce bacterial resistance, and it will be equally effective on gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. In this Phase II STTR project, we propose to study the efficacy of the SH-PDT device in two ways. First we will quantify the ability of the device to kill a bacterial biofilm in vitro that is comprised of three different bacteria strains associated with periodontitis. Secondly, we will quantify the ability of the device to kill periodontitis in vivo using a Wistar rat ligature model. A pilot study will be conducted to determine the appropriate dose, followed by a full study to acquire statistically significant results. Successful results from these studies will be used to design human clinical trials in the future.