Directed Self-Assembly of Magnetic Bioceramic Deep Inside Dentinal Tubules May Alleviate Dental Hypersensitivity

Delivery of regenerative medicine in complex, microscale topographies can revolutionize multiple areas of healthcare, including but not limited to orthopaedics and dentistry. The technical challenges include navigation and regeneration of nanoscale biosimilars with spatial control, necessitating a different technological approach, as demonstrated here. The specific problem addressed here is dental hypersensitivity, which occurs when dentinal tubules are exposed to the external environment through enamel loss or cementum erosion of the tooth, thus stimulating nerves located in the peripheral odontoblast zone of the pulp. Existing treatments, such as sensitive toothpaste and adhesive resins, are limited to the surface and can only provide short-term relief. Here, we deploy a confluence of distinct experimental strategies to develop a magnetic bioglass-based nanomaterial called “CalBots,” consisting of a Calcium-based colloidal gel that self-assembles into short chains under optimized conditions of external magnetic fields and interparticle interactions and penetrates more than 300 µm deep inside the complex topography of the dentine tissue. Subsequently, it triggers the formation of a biocompatible seal, thus protecting the exposed tubules and their nerve fibers from external stimuli, for both human and murine teeth. The controlled animal trial shows a full recovery from dental hypersensitivity within the treatment group.