Self-assembling peptide scaffolds promote enamel remineralization.
Rationally designed beta-sheet-forming peptides that spontaneously form three-dimensional fibrillar scaffolds in response to specific environmental triggers may potentially be used in skeletal tissue engineering, including the treatment/prevention of dental caries, via bioactive surface groups. We hypothesized that infiltration of caries lesions with monomeric low-viscosity peptide solutions would be followed by in situ polymerization triggered by conditions of pH and ionic strength, providing a biomimetic scaffold capable of hydroxyapatite nucleation, promoting repair. Our aim was to determine the effect of an anionic peptide applied to caries-like lesions in human dental enamel under simulated intra-oral conditions of pH cycling. Peptide treatment significantly increased net mineral gain by the lesions, due to both increased remineralization and inhibition of demineralization over a five-day period. The assembled peptide was also capable of inducing hydroxyapatite nucleation de novo. The results suggest that self-assembling peptides may be useful in the modulation of mineral behavior during in situ dental tissue engineering.
Kirkham
J
J
Department of Oral Biology, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9LU, UK.
Firth
A
A
Vernals
D
D
Boden
N
N
Robinson
C
C
Shore
R C
RC
Brookes
S J
SJ
Aggeli
A
A
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014089:Tooth Remineralization / Q000379:methods*
D010455:Peptides; D017886:Durapatite