Quantitative image analysis of dentin microtubules occlusion using smart hydrogel-based paste in 3D printed biomimetic dentin for the treatment of teeth sensitivity ************

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

A recent survey by U.S. Dental Offices finds that one in eight people suffers from sensitive teeth. The tooth sensitivity is caused by the exposure of the softer, inner part of the tooth called dentin, which contains a large number of micrometer tubules running from the outside of the tooth to the nerve in the center, to various stimuli. This exposure triggers sharp pain after eating or drinking something hot, cold, sweet or acidic. Most sufferers are women and people between 20 and 50 years old who had receding gums or did at-home tooth whitening. The most common treatments consist in applying fluoride gels, rinses or varnishes onto the teeth, or tooth surface treatment with occluding agents. In this project, in partnership with Bioastra Technologies Inc. (BTI), the use of a new formulation developed by BTI, based-on smart polymers in which smart microparticles are suspended, is proposed as "occluding paste" for the treatment of teeth hypersensitivity. To reach this market, an in vitro model of dentin needs to be developed that mimic the natural dentin composition and microstructure to fully characterize the ability of their materials to occlude/penetrate into dentin microtubules. The dentin is a nanocomposite of hydroxyapatite minerals distributed in a scaffold of type-I collagen fibrils, with fluid and non-collagenous proteins. The objective of this proposal is to develop a 3-D printed dentin model using these main compositions of dentin as bioink to build this dentin model. The occlusion properties of BTI's smart polymers and microparticles will then be investigated by tracking them into the tubules of the dentin model using advanced imaging techniques and analysis methods. These techniques include the scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy with digital image processing, confocal laser scanning microscopy and X-ray computed tomography. Collectively, these techniques will allow quantifying the porosity, pore size distribution, and tortuosity of the porous network after the application of BTI's biomaterials and provide us with the information about their potential use as consumer healthcare products for the treatment of teeth hypersensitivity.**************