Biomimetic supramolecular protein matrix restores structure and properties of human dental enamel
Tooth enamel is characterised by an intricate hierarchical organization of apatite nanocrystals that bestows high stiffness, hardness, and fracture toughness. However, enamel does not possess the ability to regenerate, and achieving the artificial restoration of its microstructure and mechanical properties in clinical settings has proven challenging. To tackle this issue, we engineer a tuneable and resilient supramolecular matrix based on elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) that imitates the structure and function of the enamel-developing matrix. When applied as a coating on the surface of teeth exhibiting different levels of erosion, the matrix is stable and can trigger epitaxial growth of apatite nanocrystals, recreating the microarchitecture of the different anatomical regions of enamel and restoring the mechanical properties. The study demonstrates the translational potential of our mineralising technology for treating loss of enamel in clinical settings such as the treatment of enamel erosion and dental hypersensitivity.
Authors
- Federico Venturi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3156-4736)
- Gabriele H. Greco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3356-7081)
- José Carlos Rodríguez‐Cabello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3438-858X)
- Tanvir Hussain (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8024-829X)
- Sherif Elsharkawy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9195-4982)
- Sara Gamea (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5719-7217)
- Benjamin Myers
- Christopher Parmenter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2092-0555)
- Nicola M. Pugno (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2136-2396)
- Frankie J. Rawson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4872-8928)
- Nathan Cowieson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0811-6169)
- Andrey L. Chuvilin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3712-5638)
- Michael W. Fay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0017-5196)
- Ingrid Dreveny (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2256-642X)
- Abshar Hasan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6957-901X)
- X. Frank Walboomers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5742-9826)
- Tell Tuttle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2300-8921)
- Avijit Banerjee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0091-7348)
- Stefan Habelitz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7201-5779)
- Alexander van Teijlingen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3739-8943)
- Charlotte J. C. Edwards‐Gayle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7757-107X)
- Álvaro Mata (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6739-9111)
- J. Ruben (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6602-5882)
- Adam Winter
- Helena Rouco
Institutions
- Universidad de Valladolid (ES)
- Ikerbasque (ES)
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- University of Strathclyde (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- University of Trento (IT)
- Tanta University (EG)
- Diamond Light Source (GB)
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (ES)
- CIC nanoGUNE (ES)
- NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-operative (GB)
- Signature Research (United States) (US)
- BioElectronics (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64982-y
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Bone and Dental Protein Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 10.01
Funders
- Diamond Light Source
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- European Commission
- AO Foundation
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Junta de Castilla y León
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia celular de Castilla y León
- Medical Research Council
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre