Iron oxide nanozymes stabilize stannous fluoride for targeted biofilm killing and synergistic oral disease prevention.

Min Jun Oh, Hyun Koo, David P Cormode, Domenick T Zero, Derk Joester, Xingchen Zhao, Sarah Boyer, Paul J M Smeets, Yong Li, Faizan Alawi, Christine Buckley, Yue Huang, Tatsuro Ito, Dongyeop Kim, Zhenting Xiang, Zhi Ren, Jessica C Hsu, Aurea Simon-Soro, Shrey Shah, Nil Kanatha Pandey, Yuan Liu

Journal: Nature communications 2023;14(1):6087

PMID: 37773239

Abstract

Dental caries is the most common human disease caused by oral biofilms despite the widespread use of fluoride as the primary anticaries agent. Recently, an FDA-approved iron oxide nanoparticle (ferumoxytol, Fer) has shown to kill and degrade caries-causing biofilms through catalytic activation of hydrogen peroxide. However, Fer cannot interfere with enamel acid demineralization. Here, we show notable synergy when Fer is combined with stannous fluoride (SnF), markedly inhibiting both biofilm accumulation and enamel damage more effectively than either alone. Unexpectedly, we discover that the stability of SnF is enhanced when mixed with Fer in aqueous solutions while increasing catalytic activity of Fer without any additives. Notably, Fer in combination with SnF is exceptionally effective in controlling dental caries in vivo, even at four times lower concentrations, without adverse effects on host tissues or oral microbiome. Our results reveal a potent therapeutic synergism using approved agents while providing facile SnF stabilization, to prevent a widespread oral disease with reduced fluoride exposure.

© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.

Address: Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Biofilm Research Labs, Levy Center for Oral Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Department of Orthodontics and Divisions of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Department of Stomatology, Dental School, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.; Center for Innovation and Precision Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.; Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Chiba, Japan.; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Department of Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health and Oral Health Research Institute, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA.; Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.; Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.; Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].; Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].; Biofilm Research Labs, Levy Center for Oral Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].; Department of Orthodontics and Divisions of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].; Center for Innovation and Precision Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].
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