Latest news with #AdvancedHealthcareMaterials
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
Toothpaste Made From Hair Works Better Than Fluoride, Scientists Say
Looking for an effective, sustainable toothpaste? It might be on top of your head. Scientists have discovered that keratin, a protein found in hair, skin, and wool, can repair tooth enamel and stop tooth decay. It might also protect teeth even better than conventional fluoride-based toothpastes, stopping tooth decay in its tracks, according to a new study. When keratin comes into contact with saliva, it forms a protective coating that mimics natural enamel, the study shows. Not only can it shield teeth from further damage, but it may also help repair enamel—something traditional toothpastes can't do. The findings are published in Advanced Healthcare Materials. 'Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments. Not only is it sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin, it also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins, commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable,' Sara Gamea, a graduate student at King's College London and first author of the study, said in a statement. Tooth enamel wears away with age, leading to tooth sensitivity and eventually a need for dentures. This process is hastened by acidic foods and poor oral hygiene. And once enamel is gone, it's gone. Fluoride toothpaste can slow this process but not stop it. What can? Keratin, apparently. The protein forms a dense crystal-like scaffold that mimics the structure, color, and function of actual enamel, the new study found. Over time, the scaffold continues to attract calcium and phosphate ions, leading to the growth of an enamel-like coating on teeth. That means keratin-based toothpaste could potentially repair lost enamel and seal exposed nerves—reversing the symptoms of enamel erosion. The study authors used keratin extracted from wool in their study but said it could also be extracted from other sources, including human hair. This is a huge step for regenerative dentistry, the researchers say. It's also good for the environment, providing a biodegradable alternative to conventional toothpastes. And happily, consumers might not have to wait long to purchase a keratin-based toothpaste; the researchers say it could hit the market in the next two to three years. 'We are entering an exciting era where biotechnology allows us to not just treat symptoms but restore biological function using the body's own materials. With further development and the right industry partnerships, we may soon be growing stronger, healthier smiles from something as simple as a haircut,' Sherif Elsharkawy, the study's lead author and consultant in prosthodontics at King's College London, said in a statement.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Toothpaste Made From Your Own Hair May Repair Your Teeth
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new study from King's College London suggests that keratin—the protein found in human hair, skin and wool—can regenerate tooth enamel and potentially halt early tooth decay. Published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, the research found that keratin—when extracted from wool and applied to teeth—forms a crystal-like layer that mimics and rebuilds lost enamel. The study presents keratin as an eco-friendly, biomimetic alternative to traditional fluoride treatments, which can only slow decay, but not reverse it. "Enamel is the hardest tissue in the body, but unlike bone or skin, it cannot repair itself once damaged," Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, senior author and prosthodontics consultant at King's College London, told Newsweek in an email. "Dentistry has relied for decades on synthetic materials such as plastic resins or ceramics, but these are never a perfect biological match. "I wanted to find a natural, sustainable material that could actually regenerate enamel rather than simply cover damage." Stock image: Woman pointing at her teeth. Stock image: Woman pointing at her teeth. Photo by Fizkes / Getty Images Why It Matters Tooth enamel erosion is irreversible and widespread, and it can be caused by a combination of factors. Acidic foods and drinks—such as soda, citrus and vinegar—erode enamel by lowering the pH in the mouth, which dissolves the minerals that keep teeth hard. Poor oral hygiene allows plaque bacteria to produce acids that contribute to decay, while aggressive brushing can physically wear away the enamel surface. Age also plays a role, as enamel naturally thins over time, exposing the softer dentin underneath. Conditions like acid reflux, dry mouth and eating disorders can accelerate enamel loss as well by increasing acid exposure or reducing saliva, which normally helps neutralize harmful acids. Once tooth enamel is lost, the tooth nerves are exposed, which is painful and makes the teeth sensitive. While fluoride toothpastes are standard for managing this issue, keratin offers a regenerative approach that goes beyond symptom control. What to Know Researchers used wool as a keratin source and applied it to teeth in a laboratory. "Keratin has a molecular structure that can guide minerals into forming enamel-like crystals," Elsharkawy told Newsweek. "Turning waste materials, mainly sheep wool, into a tooth-repair material felt both scientifically exciting and environmentally meaningful." The treatment is versatile, according to Elsharkawy. "Keratin can be transformed into a material as strong and functional as natural enamel," he explained. "It could be delivered through something as simple as toothpaste or as a professional in-clinic gel, making tooth-decay repair accessible, affordable, and sustainable worldwide." What People Are Saying "We knew keratin had promise, but I was impressed by how precisely it guided crystal growth into enamel-like structures," Elsharkawy said. "It did not just coat the tooth—it recreated the highly ordered crystal pattern of natural enamel, something that normally only happens during tooth development." What's Next The team is working on commercial pathways for the treatment, with Elsharkawy noting, "The response has been enormous from dentists, industry, and the public." He added that the group had launched the company Eterna Regeneratives to lead the translation of this breakthrough. "The dental industry already sees this as a game-changing innovation," he explained. "Our first go-to-market products will be toothpaste and mouthwash for daily use, followed by a more potent professional treatment for those at higher risk of decay. [...] "We are confident this will be available to the public within two years."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Scientists reveal a bizarre cure for tooth cavities: Hair-based toothpaste could end painful dentist visits
From salon floor to smile saver You Might Also Like: Think lemon water is healthy? A Harvard-trained doctor reveals what most people get wrong Why enamel matters — and why this is a big deal As a daily-use toothpaste for ongoing enamel protection As a dentist-applied gel, similar to nail varnish, for targeted repairs Waste-to-healthcare innovation If the idea of brushing your teeth with something made from hair makes you squirm, you might want to hear the science before dismissing it. A groundbreaking study from King's College London, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, has found that keratin — the same protein found in your hair, skin, nails, and even wool — could help naturally rebuild damaged tooth no, this isn't just about plugging cavities. The research suggests keratin can encourage your teeth to regrow a protective, enamel-like layer — something dentistry has never been able to achieve until works as a kind of microscopic scaffolding. When applied to a tooth's surface, it interacts with minerals in saliva — mainly calcium and phosphate — to create a dense, crystal-like coating that closely mimics natural enamel. Over time, this layer continues to attract more minerals, strengthening itself and sealing off nerve channels that cause sensitivity.'This technology bridges the gap between biology and dentistry,' said Dr. Sara Gamea, lead researcher on the project, in the university's press release . 'Keratin offers a sustainable, biocompatible alternative to toxic and less durable dental resins.'The keratin used in the study came from wool, but researchers confirm human hair could work the same way. That means future toothpaste or dentist-applied gels could, quite literally, come from a byproduct of haircuts — turning waste into a high-value healthcare enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but once it's worn down, it doesn't grow back. Acidic foods, sugar, aging, and poor oral hygiene all speed up erosion, leading to tooth sensitivity, pain, and eventually decay. Fluoride toothpastes can slow the damage, but they can't restore lost however, could change that. By rebuilding an enamel-like layer, it not only halts decay but may also prevent cavities before they start. Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, senior study author, calls it 'a shift from symptom management to true biological restoration.'The King's College team envisions two ways to use keratin:With further development, the researchers believe keratin-based dental products could reach the public in the next two to three dental care, this discovery taps into a broader push for circular healthcare — finding ways to transform waste into valuable medical resources. Human hair and animal wool, which often end up discarded, could become raw materials for regenerative Dr. Gamea noted, keratin also looks more natural than existing dental restorations, as it can be matched closely to the tooth's original may sound unconventional, but if brushing with a keratin-based toothpaste means avoiding the drill, the whine of the dental chair, and costly restorative procedures, many might soon welcome it into their daily Perhaps. Game-changing? Absolutely.
LeMonde
12-07-2025
- Health
- LeMonde
Tracking neural implants that fool the immune system
One of the key challenges for neurobiologists who implant neural devices in patients has been finding ways to fool the immune system into forgetting that these electronic devices – which are designed to receive or send signals to neurons – are foreign bodies. Since the early 2000s, dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug, has been one of the main avenues explored. This medication helps reduce the body's rejection response and the process of "encapsulation," in which scar tissue forms around the implant to protect the body from perceived external aggression. These tissues act as an insulator between the neurons and the implant, diminishing the device's effectiveness; this is a significant issue, for instance, with cochlear implants, which are used to improve hearing. While the anti-inflammatory drug has already proven effective at countering this "insulation" problem, researchers are working on approaches that could help minimize side effects. An international team of researchers, whose work was published in Advanced Healthcare Materials on June 17, explored the option of chemically linking the prosthesis material and the drug. By creating a covalent bond – that is, a sharing of electrons between two atoms – they managed to "attach" the drug molecule to the prosthesis, much like a coating. To test their technique, the researchers chose to bond the largest part of the neuroprosthesis − the polyimide base (a flexible plastic) − with dexamethasone.
