“Chlorhexidine-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles provide a dual system with both mineralising and antibacterial properties,” claim German scientists.
Calcium phosphate is a natural component of tooth mineral and it can help to remineralise damaged enamel. On the other hand, chlrohexidine is an antibacterial agent, which helps prevent the bacterial colonisation on the tooth surface. The team led by Professor Matthis Epple at the University of Duisburg-Essen synthesised chlorhexidine-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles for use either in mouth wash or as a paste.
The figure below shows that “the fluorescein-labelled paste containing the functionalised nanoparticles adhered well onto the tooth surface, especially at the cervical and proximal areas”. Epple and co-workers also demonstrate that the paste sticks well to the root surface and closes dentin tubules.
Read the full paper published in RSC Advances by clicking on the title below or simply register online, if you do not have free access to the Journal content already.
Chlorhexidine-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles for dental maintenance treatment: combination of mineralising and antibacterial effects
Anna Kovtun, Diana Kozlova, Kathirvel Ganesan, Caroline Biewald, Nadine Seipold, Peter Gaengler, Wolfgang H. Arnold and Matthias Epple
RSC Adv., 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1RA00955A, Paper
Also of interest is a recent review article recently published in RSC Advances. Click on the title for free access.
Recent advances in the development of dental composite resins
Christine Lavigueur and X. X. Zhu
RSC Adv., 2012, 2, 59-63
DOI: 10.1039/C1RA00922B, Review
