Diş Hastalıklarının Remineralizasyon İle Tedavisine Yönelik Peptid Tabanlı Bir Ajanın İn Vivo Etkinliğinin Belirlenmesi

Project Summary

The proposed project aims to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of a peptite based agent to be used in remineralization therapies, which is one of the most urgent needs of the contemporary dentistry.

Caries are treated by cleaning up the carious lesion by drilling and filling with synthetic materials (restorative treatment), if the infected tissue has approached or reached the pulp, by cleaning the root canals and filling with synthetic materials (endodontic treatment). Existing treatment options are suitable for advanced caries, however are considered extreme for incipient caries. Because to treat incipient caries by drill and fill options, healthy tooth tissue must be drilled away as well, to create enough surface for the restorative materials to adhere on.

Currently there are no effective treatment options for treating incipient caries without removing healthy tissue. Remineralization therapies, which aim to replace the lost mineral without needing restorative treatments has been identified as priority research areas by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and the American Dental Association (ADA).

Products that aim to assist remineralization by increasing intraoral calcium/phosphate or fluoride concentration exist in the market. The subject of the proposed project (remineralizing peptite), on the other hand, mimics the proteins that take role in enamel formation during the embryological tooth development, before the tooth erupts. Therefore, unlike existing products, it not only increases the local ion concentration, but also actively promotes new mineral formation and the integration of the new mineral to the underlying tooth mineral. Therefore, it aims to resolve the problem of uncontrolled mineralization, which stems from the lack of regeneration capability of enamel, and is the main disadvantage of the existing products. With this feature, the remineralizing peptite will be the first product to actively promote and control enamel remineralization.

The remineralizing peptite proposed in the project has been derived from a peptite (ADP5) that has been previously developed and patented by the principal investigator Asst. Prof. Mustafa Gungormus. Although ADP5 is effective as a remineralizing agent, the 22 amino acids length is an obstacle for commercial manufacturing increasing the synthesis cost. Through a project supported by Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Office of Scientific Research, the size of the ADP5 has been optimized to half the length, 12 amino acids, without losing the remineralization activity. This peptite will be used in the proposed project.

In the project;

-   The peptite, which has been optimized for commercial production will be synthesized using cGMP standards and a varnish preparation including the peptite will be prepared.

-   Later, the efficacy of the peptite will be tested in vivo using a rat caries model. Caries will be formed on the molar teeth of the rats using a cariogenic diet. Varnishes containing the peptite and fluoride will be applied on the caries and their efficacy will be compared. Also, a varnish containing both the peptite and fluoride will be used to investigate the synergistic effects of the peptite and the fluoride.

-   Blood and gingiva samples collected after the treatment will be analyzed to investigate the potential effect of the peptite on surrounding tissues.

If the project is completed successfully, a prototype of a product that actively promotes dental remineralization will be obtained for the first time.

If the outputs of the project commercialized, added value will be created in a market where the import/export ratios are very high for Turkey. It is also aimed in the mid to long term to reduce the time and financial resources lost on treatment of dental diseases, increase in life quality and decrease in loss of work force.