# Novel polymeric materials with improved durability in the oral environment: tailoring responses to host and bacterial enzymes with anti-proteolytic and ecology-based antimicrobial approaches.

> **NIH NIH R35** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $988,540

## Abstract

Dental caries continues to be a public health issue, especially more evident in underserved 
populations throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, especially with an ageing population, hundreds of 
thousands of resin composite restorations are replaced each year due to recurring decay and 
fracture. According to a number of cohort studies, the average life-span of this type of 
restoration is 10 years or less, depending on the caries risk level of the patient and on the 
complexity of the restorative procedure. This proposal represents an effort to develop novel 
antimicrobial structures, based on a targeted approach specifically against dysbiotic biofilm.
Bacterial coalescence will be prevented by using GTF inhibitors, made polymerizable by 
functionalization with stable methacrylamides. In addition, MMP-inhibiting moieties will be added 
to a polymerizable monomer, improving the stability of the collagen in the hybrid layer.
Ultimately, this will save millions of dollars annually and the unnecessary loss of additional 
tooth structure that comes with every re-treatment. The proposed approach will improve the 
longevity of restorations by: 1. Designing monomers containing known GTF-inhibiting moieties, thus 
making them available non-transiently at the surface of restorations. 2.Utilizing polymerizable 
functionalities that depart from the water/esterase-labile methacrylates. Methacrylamides are well 
known for their resistance to degradation by hydrolysis, and the systems proposed here will also be 
stable to enzymatic attack. 3. Incorporating MMP-inhibiting moieties on the methacrylamide monomer 
to the used as the adhesive, thus preserving the integrity of the collagen long-term. 4. Testing 
the materials in a physiologically relevant environment, mimicking the conditions in the mouth in 
terms of mechanical loading, bacterial challenge and presence of saliva.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985797
- **Project number:** 5R35DE029083-02
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Carmem S. Pfeifer
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $988,540
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985797

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985797, Novel polymeric materials with improved durability in the oral environment: tailoring responses to host and bacterial enzymes with anti-proteolytic and ecology-based antimicrobial approaches. (5R35DE029083-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985797. Licensed CC0.

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