Phosphate crosslinked starch nanoparticle and dental treatments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental remineralization agents, such as those with a negative charge, are repelled by carious lesions due to electrostatic forces, limiting their effectiveness in targeting and delivering calcium and fluoride for tooth remineralization.

Innovation Solution

Starch nanoparticles are cross-linked with phosphate compounds and optionally cationized with calcium and fluoride, providing a positive zeta potential at acidic pH to target and deliver minerals to demineralized tooth areas, enhancing retention and delivery of active agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If negative charged remineralization agents are used to deliver calcium and fluoride, then remineralization capability is provided, but the agents are repelled by carious lesions due to electrostatic forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremineralization capabilityVSAvoidtargeting effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the charge parameter of the nanoparticle from negative to positive by cationizing the starch backbone. This parameter change allows the nanoparticle to be attracted to negatively charged carious lesions rather than repelled, while still maintaining the ability to deliver calcium and fluoride for remineralization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite nanoparticle structure with a cationic starch backbone that can simultaneously carry anionic remineralizing agents (calcium and fluoride). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining the targeting capability of positive charge with the remineralization function of calcium and fluoride delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If phosphate crosslinking is used to form starch nanoparticles, then nanoparticle structure is created, but the particles acquire negative charge causing repulsion from carious lesions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenanoparticle structureVSAvoidelectrostatic attraction to caries

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of accepting the negative charge as a fixed property of phosphate crosslinked starch, the patent inverts the charge by introducing cationic groups through cationization. This reverses the electrostatic interaction from repulsion to attraction, allowing the nanoparticle to target carious lesions effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If cationization is applied to starch nanoparticles, then positive zeta potential is achieved for targeting caries, but retention of anionic active agents like fluoride may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetargeting to carious lesionsVSAvoidretention of anionic active agents

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cationic starch backbone with anionic remineralizing agents (calcium and fluoride) into a single nanoparticle structure. The electrostatic attraction between the positive backbone and negative agents enables the particle to target carious lesions while simultaneously delivering high loads of calcium and fluoride

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The nanoparticles effectively target and deliver calcium and fluoride to demineralized tooth areas, promoting remineralization and reducing porosity, even in early carious lesions, thereby preventing cavity formation.

Implementation Method 1

starch-based nanoparticles made with a phosphate crosslinker

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCross-linking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the negative charge can be at least reduced, and optionally neutralized or reversed, by adding preferably multi-valent cations and/or cationizing the starch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 3

Dental caries and other remineralized areas of a tooth are negatively charged

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 4

phosphorous-calcium minerals are useful when remineralizing a tooth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentUS12508212B2Phosphate crosslinked starch nanoparticle and dental treatments

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 GREENMARK BIOMEDICAL INC

AI summary

A phosphorous compound such as STMP is used as a cross-linking agent while making a starch nanoparticle in an emulsion process. Negative charge of the nanoparticle is reduced or reversed by adding cations and/or cationizing the starch optionally while forming the nanoparticles. Anionic active agents, such as fluoride or fluorescein, are optionally incorporated into the nanoparticle during the formation process. For example, a fluoride salt can also be used, which promotes the crosslinking reaction while also providing fluoride in the nanoparticle. The retention of both calcium and fluoride in the nanoparticle is improved when both salts are used. Alternatively, the nanoparticle may be used without added calcium and/or fluoride. The nanoparticles may be useful for tooth remineralization, the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity, to treat caries, or as a diagnostic agent to locate carious lesions.