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Nanoparticles can remove plaque and protect teeth

Prevents reestablishment of plaques, therefore more efficient than antibacterial agents

30-Apr-2019

Key points from article :

Nanobots can get rid of the plaques on teeth that are difficult to remove.

Can prevent tooth decay and gum diseases without manual biofilm scraping or application of chemicals.

Suspended iron-oxide nanoparticles generate bactericidal and matrix-degrading molecules on site.

Break down the stable drug-resistant biofilm better than antibacterial agents.

Dead bacterial debris is removed using an external magnetic field so the biofilm cannot regrow.

Dentist steers the movements of cleaning using magnetic fields.

Cleaned a real human tooth as a demonstration.

Needs to optimize the system for future clinical application.

Plans to develop devices that can remove biofilms on other surfaces.

Research by University of Pennsylvania published in Science Robotics.

Mentioned in this article:

Click on resource name for more details.

Hyun (Michel) Koo

Professor in Department of Orthodontics at University of Pennsylvania.

Science Robotics

Journal providing information in the field of robotics.

University of Pennsylvania

Private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Topics mentioned on this page:
Nanobots