BRISTOL, UK: Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a new technology that could increase protection against anti-bacterial and anti-fungal infection for weeks, months or even years. The new antimicrobial formulation is likely to have a significant impact across a number of areas, including dentistry, where one in seven composite fillings fail within seven years and 86 per cent of these failures are caused by bacterial infection.
Developed by Dr Michele Barbour and her research group in the university’s School of Oral and Dental Sciences, Pertinax is a new formulation of chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is a proven antimicrobial agent, used widely to prevent and treat a range of infections, but in its traditional formulation is effective for only a very short length of time.
Pertinax increases chlorhexidine’s uses by improving its persistence where it is applied. This innovation has won Barbour and Pertinax the £25,000 (approx. €35,300) Materials Science Venture Prize awarded by the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers.
“Pertinax can greatly extend the active lifetime of chlorhexidine, enabling it to provide reliable protection against infection for very much longer than was previously possible. This opens up a range of new potential applications, as well as the opportunity to make existing products more effective,” said Barbour, senior lecturer in biomaterials in the school.
“Our initial focus will be in the dental market,” explained Barbour. “Research shows there is a clear need for long-acting antimicrobial products used in fillings and cements for crowns, bridges and orthodontic braces which will treat and prevent persistent bacterial infections over a much longer time frame than is currently possible.”
Owing to its novel formulation, Pertinax has an unusually low solubility, which can provide a continuous slow release over a controlled period. “This is a significant development which should help prevent some hard to treat infections affecting millions of people,” said Prof. Bill Bonfield, chairman of the Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize judging panel. “Our prize looks to encourage scientific entrepreneurship in the UK and provide funding, which is often difficult to source, to help bring new developments like this to market.”
“We will be using the Venture Prize award money to help us develop a robust and scalable manufacturing process,” Barbour stated. “At the moment we are working with gram quantities and we need to scale this to kilogram and beyond for commercial application.”
To learn more about infection control, follow this link.
BRUSSELS, Belgium/BIRMINGHAM, UK: Treat your gums” is the slogan for Gum Health Day 2022, a worldwide awareness campaign organised by the European ...
KRIENS, Switzerland: Dental professionals play an important role not only in oral health but in well-being in general. This gives dental care extra ...
LONDON, UK: A new method of detecting bacteria during root canal therapy could eradicate the need for follow-up appointments and prevent treatment failure, ...
DURHAM, N.C., U.S./BIRMINGHAM, U.K.: Cancers that occur in the back of the mouth or in the upper throat are difficult to spot and, as a result, are often ...
LIVERPOOL – Owing to the absence of a uniform testing standard within the NHS, researchers have analysed a new test developed to classify ...
Breath odour is the presence of odorous volatile organic compounds in the breath of individuals. It is a widespread problem, as it affects a high percentage...
Breath odour is the presence of odorous volatile organic compounds in the breath of individuals. It is a widespread problem, as it affects a high percentage...
PLYMOUTH, UK: Giving paediatric patients with autism a choice on things like the colour of their mouthwash or brightness of the lights could significantly ...
LONDON, UK: Seeking to improve oral cancer detection and treatment, researchers from Queen Mary University of London have developed the first polymerase ...
Seeking to elevate the standard of care in dentistry by equipping dental professionals with the latest tools and knowledge in dentistry, Align Technology ...
Live webinar
Fri. 19 July 2024
1:00 am UTC (London)
Live webinar
Tue. 6 August 2024
11:00 pm UTC (London)
Live webinar
Wed. 14 August 2024
12:00 am UTC (London)
Live webinar
Wed. 21 August 2024
2:00 pm UTC (London)
Dr. Jim Lai DMD, MSc(Perio), EdD, FRCD(C)
Live webinar
Thu. 29 August 2024
1:00 am UTC (London)
Live webinar
Mon. 2 September 2024
10:00 am UTC (London)
Live webinar
Tue. 3 September 2024
4:00 pm UTC (London)
To post a reply please login or register