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Technology Overview

OHSU # 3192 — eDentin- a tissue engineered reparative dentin

Summary

Current dental restoration materials trigger immune responses and poorly replicate the natural structure of the tooth, which delays the healing process.  The current technology is a novel biomaterial that more closely mimics natural dentin and thereby allows for more efficient healing of the tooth.

Technology Overview

Cement-based materials are the current gold standard used for reparative dental procedures where damage to the internal dentin has occurred.  However, these materials lack the complexity and functionality of dentin, trigger large immune responses, and result in slow dental tissue regeneration.

The current technology is a regenerative biomaterial called eDentin, which more closely mimics the tooth’s natural dentin properties, thereby allowing for a less inflammatory healing process.  eDentin could serve as a pre-formed and off-the-shelf ready regenerative dental material, that promotes faster and more efficient healing.  Properties of eDentin include:

  • Replication of the biomimetic and structural properties of natural reparative dentin at nanometer scale.
  • The ability to encapsulate progenitor cells and biomolecules within the matrix to increase the speed of tissue regeneration.
  • Malleable constructs, capable of being produced at large sizes, which can be manipulated with tweezers to accommodate a cavity and provide immediate protection to exposed dental pulp (see Figure).
  • Demonstrated compatibility with 10-MDP based dental adhesives.
  • Preliminary comparisons to silicate cements found eDentin produced less inflammation in vivo and led to faster generation of the tooth’s own reparative dentin.
Figure showing eDentin outside (left) and inside a tooth (right).

Licensing Opportunity

This technology is available for licensing.

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