The Need

Biofilms, particularly dental plaque-biofilms, are communities of microorganisms encased in a slimy extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that adhere to surfaces or neighboring microorganisms. These biofilms are responsible for various infectious diseases, including oral diseases such as dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Traditional oral hygiene practices, while somewhat effective, often struggle to fully eliminate these resilient biofilms. There is a growing need for innovative methods and compositions that can effectively disrupt and remove biofilms to enhance oral health.

The Technology

This innovative technology provides a method to monitor and evaluate the detachment and rearrangement of biofilms in response to shear stress. By spinning a biofilm-coated object in a liquid with increasing angular velocity, the resulting shear stress and torque are monitored to generate a torque-angular velocity curve. This data is then analyzed to determine key parameters related to biofilm detachment. The technology also includes methods for identifying and evaluating oral care compositions that exhibit biofilm detachment activity, thus enabling the development of more effective oral care products.

Commercial Applications

• Evaluation of biofilm detachment efficacy in oral care compositions
• Development of new oral hygiene products that target biofilm removal
• Screening and optimization of antimicrobial agents for dental applications
• Research and development in biofilm-related infectious diseases
• Quality control and efficacy testing in oral healthcare product manufacturing

Benefits/Advantages

• Provides a quantitative method for assessing biofilm detachment
• Enables the identification of more effective oral care compositions
• Enhances the development of targeted treatments for oral diseases
• Improves oral hygiene product performance through precise testing
• Supports innovative research in combating biofilm-related infections