Dental caries (tooth decay) is initiated by demineralisation of tooth hard tissue by organic acids produced by dental plaque bacteria from dietary sugars. The disease is a major public health problem and has an estimated economic burden in Australia of over $1 billion p.a. being higher than that for any other dietary-related disease. We have discovered and patented a novel amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate that is stabilised by phosphopeptides from the bovine milk protein casein. These comple ....Dental caries (tooth decay) is initiated by demineralisation of tooth hard tissue by organic acids produced by dental plaque bacteria from dietary sugars. The disease is a major public health problem and has an estimated economic burden in Australia of over $1 billion p.a. being higher than that for any other dietary-related disease. We have discovered and patented a novel amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate that is stabilised by phosphopeptides from the bovine milk protein casein. These complexes, designated CPP-ACFP, have the potential to provide superior clinical efficacy in preventing dental caries and treating and repairing early stages of disease. The aims of this project therefore are (i) to develop topical formulations of CPP-ACFP for application to teeth to repair early stages of decay and (ii) to characterise the three-dimensional structure of the CPP-ACFP complexes. The significance of this work is that a superior and novel treatment for dental caries may be developed as well as providing insight into the structure of organically-stabilised amorphous calcium phosphate and its role in biomineralisation processes.Read moreRead less
Role Of Calcium Stores And Phosphate Channels In Muscle Fatigue
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$221,640.00
Summary
Muscles become weaker when ever they are used intensively; this is the familiar muscle fatigue. We are studying the mechanism of muscle fatigue and believe it is caused by depletion of a store of calcium inside the muscle. We suspect the store of calcium declines because phosphate, which is a product of muscle metabolism, enters the calcium store and precipitates as calcium phosphate. Currently we are trying to prove this hypothesis and extend it by studying the channels through which phosphate ....Muscles become weaker when ever they are used intensively; this is the familiar muscle fatigue. We are studying the mechanism of muscle fatigue and believe it is caused by depletion of a store of calcium inside the muscle. We suspect the store of calcium declines because phosphate, which is a product of muscle metabolism, enters the calcium store and precipitates as calcium phosphate. Currently we are trying to prove this hypothesis and extend it by studying the channels through which phosphate passes from the muscle cell into the calcium store. It may be possible to find or design drugs which minimise the movement of phosphate through this channel and such a drug might reduce the component of fatigue caused by this mechanism. Such a drug might benefit patients whose normal activities are limited by muscle fatigue; this includes patients with any disabling muscle disease, such as muscular dystrophy or stroke, and patients with heart failure. In addition elderly people suffer a loss of muscle bulk and the remaining muscle is easily fatigued causing loss of mobility and independence; so the elderly might also benefit from such a drug.Read moreRead less
Low Strength Silver Fluoride Solutions As Clinically Effective Bacteriostatic And Cariostatic Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$147,800.00
Summary
Scientific evidence indicates that low concentrations of silver are effective in countering bacteria involved in dental decay, and that solutions of silver fluoride are effective in stopping progression of dental decay. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of low strength silver fluoride solutions in the clinical management of dental decay in children. Such solutions may provide a simplified technique for controlling dental decay in populations which lack traditional resources