26 August 2011
Otago research pair wins Proof of Concept Grant with filling fix
Development of silver nanoparticle-based materials for treating dental caries has won two University of Otago
researchers the 2011 Otago Innovation Proof of Concept Grant worth $50,000.
Senior Lecturer in the Otago School of Dentistry Dr Don Schwass and Chemistry Lecturer Dr Carla Meledandri are together
researching the application of silver-nanoparticles as a way to deliver and maintain antibacterial effects deep within
the tooth.
Their aim is to create a product that eliminates bacteria and prevents their recurrence under and around fillings.
The Proof of Concept Grant will help fund their efforts to prove that these ultra-small nanoparticles are effective on
teeth, as well as to conduct toxicity studies and then take the work to a stage that will interest dental materials
manufacturers
The pair say the project began with Dr Schwass’s interest in new strategies for prevention of dental caries (tooth
decay).
“I was twenty years in private practice as a dentist,” says Dr Schwass, “so I saw the limitations of existing treatment
approaches and early intervention strategies. Most restorative materials break down over time allowing bacterial
infections to reactivate. I was looking for a product that could effectively eliminate bacteria, providing lasting
protection even when materials start to fail.”
Dr Schwass felt the chemical compound silver diamine fluoride showed real promise, but when applied on teeth it leaves
an unappealing black silver fluoride deposit on the cavity surface of carious lesions, which is not particularly
desirable for a dental product.
“Subsequent application of potassium iodide can turn this black deposit into a more appealing white colour, but the
concentrations at which these chemicals need to be applied to impart the desired effect is surprisingly high.
“I then had a chance encounter with Carla at a speed-collaboration exercise for Otago academic researchers where we got
to discuss our interests for two minutes,” he says.
Dr Meledandri says, “Don came up to me afterwards and said, ‘about those nanoparticles you’re interested in...’”
In partnership with Dr Schwass, Dr Meledandri developed suspensions of silver nanoparticle-based materials which testing
showed to have tremendously potent anti-bacterial qualities at very low concentrations. At these concentrations, the
nanoparticle suspensions appear pale yellow in colour, or more often, completely colourless, solving the aesthetics
problem.
Otago Innovation, the University of Otago’s commercialisation arm, will work closely with the researchers as the project
advances, assisting them in translating their project into a marketable product.
Otago Innovation Commercialisation Manager David Christensen says all University of Otago researchers are invited to
enter the annual competition for the Proof of Concept Grant. The competition is intended to encourage researchers to
consider possible commercial applications for their work. The grant itself is intended to assist the winning research
project transition from the point of initial discovery toward commercialisation.
“This year we had over a dozen applicants from a broad range of disciplines,” Mr Christensen says. “The competition
panel short-listed that down to three. The probability of Don and Carla’s work succeeding, the potential for a robust
patent position to be created around it, their professionalism, credibility and competence combined to win them the
prize.”
ENDS