INOVAMAT

Prophylaxis of dental and periodontal diseases is entering in the age of nanotechnology. The potential impact of nanotechnology on novel dentistry applications in disease diagnosis, therapy and prevention is foreseen to change the oral health care in a fundamental way. Novel nanomaterials and relevant advances of nanotechnology focus on promising dental applications might be a strong support for a modern nano-dentistry for preventing oral and dental diseases, relieving pain, preserving and improving dental health using innovative nanostructured materials.

In particular, the INOVAMAT project will advance innovative nanomaterials, similar in composition and structure with teeth, for relevant applications in restorative dentistry, minimally invasive dental procedures, for implant dentistry and in prophylaxis of dental and periodontal diseases.

Up to now, only a small number of dental materials, e.g. toothpastes containing nano phosphates, e.g. nano hydroxyapatite: HAP, which is the major compound of enamel (more than 90%) and the predominant component of dentine (more than 70%) are on the market. However, at this time it is uncertain what advantages they hold over the patients' subjective evaluation on the improvement of healthy teeth.

Firstly, INOVAMAT project will develop a large number of nano phosphates, multi-substituted compounds, comprising HAP substituted with different cations, based on our patent “Nanopowders of hydroxyapatite and its substituted derivatives with medical applications and their fabrication procedure”, Romanian Patent A20100523, 10 April 2013. These innovative nanomaterials are of the highest originality, offering the major compound of teeth composition, with high performance for ion-exchange and bringing many important minerals, such as Mg and Zn, besides calcium and phosphor existing in usual nano hydroxyl phosphates.
Secondly, INOVAMAT project will use these nanomaterials, to formulate novel toothpastes for maintaining healthy teeth, for teeth deep cleaning and for treatment of super-sensitive dentine and gum. These dental materials will be designed and further developed, from experimental model to prototypes, including also mouthwash liquids, both for personal use and for dental laboratory use. These INOVAMAT materials will contain only natural ingredients, and will not comprise titanium oxide, in consequence eliminating the side effects of this compound which is not fully recommended for toothpaste.

Thirdly, INOVAMAT nanomaterials and innovative toothpastes possess the high capacity for retard release of Zn ions, which are documented to have a great anti-inflammatory and anti-bacteria effect. Thus, INOVAMAT materials can be used for longer time without a side effect related to the apparition of dental stain.

Finally, these INOVAMAT materials can be used in formulations of special endodontic cement to improve the qualities of actual Portland dental cement, as advanced teeth substitutes and as coatings of dental implants for dental reconstruction and treatment as well as in advanced implant dentistry. Certainly, INOVAMAT materials are superior those using just non-modified hydroxyl phosphates.

· Project Consortium

CO – Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca

http://www.ubbcluj.ro

P1 - Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Cluj-Napoca

http://www.umfcluj.ro

P2 - INCDO-INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation

Subsidiary (ICIA) Cluj-Napoca

http://www.icia.ro

P3 - SC Transvital Cosmetics SRL, Cluj-Napoca

http://5785.ro.all.biz