The Potential of QP3VH-Chitosan Peptide as Biomimetic Remineralization in Early Dental Caries Treatment: An In Vitro Study.

Objectives:  The development of remineralization biomimetics using organic peptide molecules is expected to resemble the hydroxyapatite (HA) mineralization process in tooth enamel. The development of an amelogenin derivative peptide combined with antimicrobial peptide was designed, resulting in QP3VH. This combination then was mixed with chitosan as a carrier. This study aimed to evaluate the biomimetic efficacy of QP3VH as a remineralizing agent combined with chitosan.

Materials and methods:  Fifty deciduous mandibular incisor enamel samples were used in this study. The artificial enamel lesions were created on a buccal surface and were randomly assigned to five groups of 10 each according to the remineralizing agent used: QP3VH, NaF, QP3VH + NaF, QP3VH + CS (QP3VH + chitosan), and saline distilled water (SDW). Each group was performed pH cycling for seven days. Enamel surface morphology and evaluation of mineral content Ca/P (calcium and phosphate) using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The assessment was carried out, after demineralization, and after application with remineralization agents.

Statistical analysis:  Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance followed by least significance difference post-hoc test. The paired t-test was utilized to compare the demineralization and remineralization results. The significance level used was 95%.

Results:  The remineralized group exhibited a significant increase in calcium and phosphate content on the enamel surface (p <0.05), and QP3VH + CS produced the maximum Ca/P mass percent after remineralization.

Conclusion:  Combining QP3VH with chitosan produces greatest remineralization than QP3VH, QP3VH + NaF, Naf, and SDW; therefore, QP3VH peptide has potential as a remineralizing agent, in the future.