This $164,255 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research (CFDA 93.121) program supports research at East Carolina University to develop innovative dental materials that inhibit microbial biofilm formation while preserving beneficial oral bacteria.
The key objectives are to: 1) synthesize a novel methacrylate-based antimicrobial agent containing a 2-aminoimidazole (2-AI) compound and formulate it into a self-etch dental adhesive (SEA); and 2) evaluate the biostability, mechanical, tooth-adhesive, and biofilm inhibition properties of the SEA containing the 2-AI compound. The research aims to create advanced dental materials that can effectively combat the dysbiotic biofilms associated with secondary caries at the margins of resin composite fillings, a leading cause of their repair or replacement. This 2-year project, with an end date of February 2027, seeks to advance the development of next-generation dental materials that preserve oral health by modulating the microbial ecology.