Elastin-like polypeptide induced biomimetic mineralization for dentin hypersensitivity

Dental hypersensitivity, a prevalent oral health issue, is closely associated with the exposure of dentinal tubules. Biomimetic mineralization has emerged as a promising approach to occlude these tubules and mitigate sensitivity. This study explores the potential of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), a synthetic polypeptide, in dentinal tubule occlusion and its efficacy in reducing dental hypersensitivity. Building on previous findings that ELP can promote enamel regeneration, we extended its application to dentin repair. The structure of ELP was verified by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). ELP-treated dentin was remineralized, and tubule occlusion was assessed over 7 days using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The new layer was further analyzed by focused ion beam-transmission electron microscopy (FIB-TEM).Our in vitro results demonstrate that ELP effectively facilitates the occlusion of dentinal tubules, showcasing its robust biomimetic mineralization capacity. This study provides a new and promising avenue for addressing dental hypersensitivity.