Application of next generation electrochemistry and imaging methods to deliver new insights for the care of oral cavity

该项目将基于扫描电化学探针的新型纳米级功能成像技术用于绘制牙釉质的特性和反应性。我们正在使用一种基于纳米移液管的技术，称为扫描离子电导显微镜（SICM），作为一种新的方法来可视化牙釉质上的电荷，并确定在酸的存在下这种变化如何与侵蚀和龋齿有关，这两种情况都是导致牙齿脱落的严重情况。我们正在进一步介绍使用SICM在纳米级研究牙釉质溶解（损失）的新方法以及表面处理如何抑制溶解。我们正在将这些方法扩展到表面细菌的电荷映射。总的来说，这些研究大大提高了SICM的能力，不仅在牙科领域，而且在界面科学方面，并为未来在物理科学中的各种应用奠定了基础。该方法是定量的凭借详细的有限元法（FEM）建模，这是能够预测的SICM响应。

This project is bringing to bear novel nanoscale functional imaging techniques based on scanned electrochemical probes to map the properties and reactivity of dental enamel. We are using a nanopipette based technique called scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) as a new approach to visualise the charge on dental enamel and determine how this changes in the presence of acids that are implicated in erosion and caries, both of which are serious conditions that lead to tooth loss. We are further introducing new methods for studying the dissolution (loss) of enamel at the nanoscale using SICM and how surface treatments inhibit the dissolution. We are extending the methods to charge mapping of bacteria on surfaces. As a whole, these studies greatly advance the capabilities of SICM not only in the dental field, but for interfacial science generally and provide a foundation for future diverse applications in the physical sciences. The methods are quantitative by virtue of detailed finite element method (FEM) modelling which is able to predict the SICM response.