Latest news with #ShanmukhPeddi
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
IISc, startup develop magnetic nanobots to treat tooth sensitivity
BENGALURU: For millions of people, the sudden, sharp pain of tooth sensitivity can turn a sip of cold water into a jolt. Now, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science ( IISc ), in collaboration with Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Theranautilus, have engineered 'CalBots' – magnetic nanobots that can seal the problem at its source. As per IISc, CalBots are 400-nanometre particles loaded with a calcium silicate-based bioceramic formula, designed to travel deep inside dentinal tubules, the tiny tunnels in the tooth that lead to nerve endings. Guided by an external magnetic field, the bots can penetrate up to 500 micrometres into the tubules and self-assemble into stable, cement-like plugs that recreate the tooth's natural barrier. One application, the team says, can offer lasting relief. Dental hypersensitivity affects nearly one in four people worldwide and occurs when enamel erosion or gum recession exposes the dentine layer beneath, IISc said. The tubules in dentine act as direct pathways to the nerves, which is why even mild temperature changes can trigger pain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo 'We didn't want to create a slightly better version of what's already out there. We wanted a technology that solves a real problem in a way that no one's attempted before,' Shanmukh Peddi, postdoctoral researcher at IISc's Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) and co-founder of Theranautilus. The team used a completely new class of bioceramic cement for the nanobots. While bioceramics are common in orthopaedics and dentistry, the formulation was designed specifically for hypersensitivity – to travel deeper and last longer. To test the approach, they worked first on extracted human teeth. 'On these samples, we applied CalBots under a magnetic field for 20 minutes, during which the bots sealed the dentinal tubules by forming deep, stable plugs – a result confirmed through high-resolution imaging,' Peddi said. They then moved to animal trials, inducing sensitivity in mice and tracking their drinking behaviour. 'Healthy mice drank both cold and room temperature water equally. But sensitive mice completely avoided cold water. After treatment, they started drinking it again. We saw 100% behavioural recovery. That was a big moment for us,' he said. The CalBots are made entirely from materials classified as 'Generally Recognised as Safe' and passed toxicity tests in mice. 'This is a compelling demonstration of what nanorobotics can achieve, and how they could significantly impact future healthcare,' said Ambarish Ghosh, professor at CeNSE and one of the study's corresponding authors. Debayan Dasgupta, former PhD student at CeNSE and co-founder of Theranautilus, sees this as part of a bigger technological shift. 'We've created a regenerative, active nanomaterial – a step towards the kind of 'tiny mechanical surgeons' Richard Feynman once envisioned,' he said. Peddi added: 'This is something we've worked towards silently for years. And the fact that we've done it here, in India, makes us very happy.'
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
IISc researchers develop magnetically guided nanobots for tooth sensitivity relief
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with city based deep-tech startup Theranautilus, have engineered magnetic nanobots that can penetrate deep into dentinal tubules which are tiny tunnels in teeth that lead to nerve endings. The magnetic nanobots called CalBots can also form durable seals for worn enamel, offering lasting relief from sensitivity in one application. Bioceramic cement 'The CalBots use a completely new class of bioceramic cement. While bioceramics are widely used in orthopaedics and dentistry for their mineralising properties, the team wanted a solution tailored for hypersensitivity – a formulation that could travel deeper and last longer,' IISc said. Dental hypersensitivity affects nearly one in four people worldwide and occurs when microscopic tubules in the dentine—the layer beneath the enamel—is exposed due to erosion or gum recession. According to IISc these tiny tubules lead directly to nerve endings, which is why even a sip of cold water can cause a sudden, stabbing pain. Current solutions It added that most current solutions, such as desensitising toothpastes, offer only surface-level relief and need to be reapplied regularly. 'CalBots, however, are different. These 400 nanometre-sized magnetic particles, loaded with a proprietary calcium silicate-based bioceramic formula, are guided by an external magnetic field deep into the exposed tubules. They can reach depths of up to 300 to 500 micrometers inside the tubules. Once there, the bots self-assemble into stable, cement-like plugs that block the tubules and recreate a durable seal that mimics the natural environment of the tooth,' IISc said. The research team used human teeth extracted for clinical reasons and created conditions where the dentine was exposed. On these samples, they applied CalBots under a magnetic field for 20 minutes, during which the bots sealed the dentinal tubules by forming deep, stable plugs – a result confirmed through high-resolution imaging. Animal trials The team also progressed to animal trials in collaboration with researchers at IISc's Center for Neuroscience. 'It involved giving mice a choice between cold and room temperature water. Healthy mice preferred both equally. But the mice with induced tooth sensitivity avoided the cold water completely,' IISc said. 'After we treated the sensitive mice with our CalBot solution, they started drinking cold water again – the treatment worked like a charm. We saw 100% behavioural recovery. That was a big moment for us,' said Shanmukh Peddi, first author of the study and post-doctoral researcher at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc, and co-founder of Theranautilus.
