Newswise – The basic series of the series records how investments from the Energy Department’s Science Office (DOE) in our National Laboratories have led to new technologies that are changing our world.
While teaching in Oklahoma, a Brazilian dentist began to seek his idea of a new technology that would eventually lead him to eastern Tennessee. There, he had access to Discovery’s scientific expertise and world -class research facilities at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory of Doe (Ornl). He used these resources to develop and test his discovery: the world’s first long -acting antibacterial adhesive resin for dental restorations.
The dentist, Fernando Luis Esteban Florez, an associate professor and researcher at the University of Oklahoma, works to prevent the secondary decomposition of teeth that cause bacteria around the edges of dental restorations, such as fillings. These secondary cavities are the reason why most restorations should be replaced on average every five to seven years.
“My idea was to develop dental adhesives that would provide long -term protection from oral bacteria,” said Esteban Florez, the lead inventor. “Only in the US, a long -term antibacterial dental glue could help prevent over 60 million dental procedures annually and save patients over $ 5 billion a year.
Esteban Florez and Sharukh Khajotia, the College Associate for Research and Innovation and Co-Officer, have learned about the Doe Office of Science users’ facilities. These 28 user facilities, located in national laboratories across the country, provide latest research facilities to the world scientific community at little or no cost for users. Esteban Florez and Khajotia submitted a user proposal to Ornl to work with scientists at the Nanophase Material Science Center (CNMS) and the High Flower Isotopia Reactor (HFIR).
“I am grateful for the Doe User Program, which allowed me, a dentist without advanced scientific training, to gain access to global top experience and resources at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It saved me six to eight years of growth,” Esteban Florez said.
With the help of world-class researchers in these nanomilic and neutrone science facilities, co-adoptives created multifunctional nanoparticles with long-term antimicrobial properties. These nanoparticles can be added to resins and other polymers used in medicine, dentistry, public health and engineering.
The group modified the titanium dioxide nanoparticles that produce extremely reactive chemicals, known as reactive oxygen species, which can kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Unlike antibiotics, germs cannot develop resistance to these chemicals.
The nanoparticles were then scattered into an adhesive resin commonly used by dentists. The researchers looked at samples of experimental adhesive resin using sunglasses microscope in CNMS and small-angle neutron scattering using the Bio-Sans organ in HFIR. With these tools, they determine the optimal shape of the particles, modifications and the dispersion method.
“The advantage of using bio-like is that it has allowed us to see how the proteins were associated with nanoparticles and how good the particles were scattered through the resin polymer resin,” Khajotia said.
According to Esteban Florez, the experimental results showed that for the first time in dentistry, the nanoparticles were scattered without grouping and were working well in a polymer and had strong antibacterial properties without light radiation.
“We are currently talking with a leading dental company for the marketing of this patented technology for a wide range of products,” Esteban Florez said. “This extremely versatile antibacterial and antimicrobial polymer technology can work in countless applications, including dental rehabilitation, tooth whitening products, medical appliances and equipment and paint on surfaces in public places, such as hospitals and airports,
The Science Office is the only biggest supporter of basic research in the Natural Sciences in the United States and is working to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
