A novel self-assembled oligopeptide amphiphile for biomimetic mineralization of enamel.

Quan-Li Li,Chun Hung Chu,Ying Cao,May Lei Mei,Wei-Bo Zhang,Tian-Yun Ning

doi:10.1186/1472-6750-14-32

Abstract

BackgroundResearchers are looking for biomimetic mineralization of ena/mel to manage dental erosion. This study evaluated biomimetic mineralization of demineralized enamel induced by a synthetic and self-assembled oligopeptide amphiphile (OPA).ResultsThe results showed that the OPA self-assembled into nano-fibres in the presence of calcium ions and in neutral acidity. The OPA was alternately immersed in calcium chloride and sodium hypophosphate solutions to evaluate its property of mineralization. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed nucleation and growth of amorphous calcium phosphate along the self-assembled OPA nano-fibres when it was repetitively exposed to solutions with calcium and phosphate ions. Energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) confirmed that these nano-particles contained calcium and phosphate. Furthermore, electron diffraction pattern suggested that the nano-particles precipitated on OPA nano-fibres were comparable to amorphous calcium phosphate. Acid-etched human enamel slices were incubated at 37°C in metastable calcium phosphate solution with the OPA for biomimetic mineralization. SEM and X-ray diffraction indicated that the OPA induced the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals in organized bundles on etched enamel. TEM micrographs revealed there were 20–30 nm nano-amorphous calcium phosphate precipitates in the biomimetic mineralizing solution. The particles were found separately bound to the oligopeptide fibres. Biomimetic mineralization with or without the oligopeptide increased demineralized enamel microhardness.ConclusionsA novel OPA was successfully fabricated, which fostered the biomimetic mineralization of demineralized enamel. It is one of the primary steps towards the design and construction of novel biomaterial for future clinical therapy of dental erosion.

Highlights

Researchers are looking for biomimetic mineralization of ena/mel to manage dental erosion
The results of the mass spectrometry showed that molecular weight of the synthetic peptide was 1,142.4 (Figure 2), which corresponds to the designed oligopeptide amphiphile (C18H35O-ThrLys-Arg-Glu-Glu-Val-Asp)
high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated that the purity of the synthetic peptide was 98.29% (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

Researchers are looking for biomimetic mineralization of ena/mel to manage dental erosion. This study evaluated biomimetic mineralization of demineralized enamel induced by a synthetic and self-assembled oligopeptide amphiphile (OPA). Amelogenin provides an effective template to induce enamel microstructure regeneration. Oligopeptides are less costly to prepare and more stable than natural protein This biomaterial has been used as a molecular tool for the synthesis, growth, and assembly of nano-structured materials [16]. The peptide amphiphile is able to selfassemble into nano-fibre networks It can promote the mineralization of hydroxyapatite to form a composite material in which the crystallographic c-axes of hydroxyapatite are aligned with the long axes of the fibres. Kirkham et al developed an oligomeric β-sheet-forming peptide that spontaneously undergoes hierarchical selfassembly into fibrillar scaffolds It can induce hydroxyapatite nucleation de novo and facilitate remineralization of caries-like lesions [18]

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