The compound is completely natural, has excellent antioxidant and adhesive properties and can replace current polymer resins by removing toxicity problems
The need to replace plastics with natural compounds also affects the dental field. The pastes currently used are made of polymers that are hardened after application. The process, which is generally safe, leads to problems related to possible unreacted cytotoxic molecules that are dispersed in the body. A solution comes from some researchers of the Lebanese Innovators Society. Mohammad Kazem Medlej, Mahmoud Kattan, Akram Hijazi and Paul Nahas have invented a natural cement composed of 94% polysaccharides and 6% protein. The invention was presented during the E-nnovate 2020 event and won a bronze medal. Two of the researchers, Mohammad Kazem Medlej and Mahmoud Kattan talk about their idea for The Patent.
“Recently, there is a worldwide orientation for using natural products as an alternative of the synthetic one in different domains. In order to reduce and limit the harmful effect of synthetic compounds that are used in dental application, we decided to search a natural product that is eligible to replace the ordinary dental cement. Composite resins exhibits significant cytotoxicity that is generated by diffusion of its unpolymerized free molecules through the dentinal tubules. Moreover, the etching phase is essential to ensure the bonding of the resins. Indeed, the etching phase presents a mismatch for direct pulp styling due to the high acidity for the pulp. The successful indirect styling pulp requires a very rigoureuse protocol, making it very hard to manipulate. The powder is composed of zinc oxide (69%), Rosin (29%), zinc stearate (1%) and acetate zinc (1%). They present pulp toxicity and therefore they are contraindicated in case of pulp capping“.
How does your invention improve existing technologies?
“The product demonstrates outstanding properties as strong adhesion force more than 5 MPa, verified by several tests. The product has a very high antioxidant activity. It was demonstrated by using different tests as ABTS radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, metal-chelating power and β-carotene bleaching test. Indeed, the toxicity was evaluated by invitro tests that demonstart non toxicity of the product with a very high safty factor. Our product can easily replace the synthetic one regarding to its strong adhesion force, high antioxidant activity (the synthetic cement doesn’t present any antioxidant activity), and non-toxic. Our product has a good diffusion in dentines“.
Has the idea already been patented or do you plan to patent it?
“The invention has already been patented and delivered by Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade on 17/01/2020“.