Dendritic polyglutamic acid-chelerythrine nanocomplex for the reversal of bacterial tooth decay†

Caries begin with an imbalance between demineralization and remineralization due to the continuous acid production by cariogenic bacteria. However, the development of dental materials that could prevent and treat caries via a simple and efficient mechanism has always been a challenge. To address this issue, therapeutic nanoparticles composed of a dendritic polyglutamic acid (DPGlu) and chelerythrine (CHE) complex (DPGlu@CHE) were developed via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. DPGlu@CHE could be adsorbed onto the tooth surface, releasing CHE rapidly under acidic conditions to remove cariogenic bacteria, subsequently inducing tooth surface remineralization in situ. Our results demonstrated that more than 99% of Streptococcus mutans on the tooth surface were killed, and 84% of the mechanical properties of tooth were restored within 2 weeks. Thus, DPGlu@CHE was proven to be a safe and effective enamel restoration material in vitro, and its safety was verified in vivo, making it a promising mouthwash ingredient to maintain dental health.