Dental Material that Kills Bacteria and Resists Biofilm Growth
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have developed a dental material tethered with an antimicrobial compound that can kill bacteria and resist biofilm growth. The material is also effective with minimal toxicity to the surrounding tissue, as it contains a low dose of the antimicrobial agent that kills only the bacteria that crosses it’s path. The researchers were motivated to develop a new dental material because the current composite materials to perform restorative procedures, such as filling cavities, are vulnerable to the growth of plaque, the biofilm that leads to tooth decay. The researchers had two goals in mind when developing the dental biomaterial: 1) kill pathogenic microbes effectively, and 2) withstand severe mechanical stress. The newly developed material is composed of a resin embedded with the antibacterial agent imidazolium. Unlike some traditional biomaterials that slowly release a drug, this material is non-leachable … Read more