Viscoelastic and antimicrobial dental care bioplastic with recyclable life cycle

Woojin Choi, Utkarsh Mangal, Jae-Hun Yu, Jeong-Hyun Ryu, Ji‑Yeong Kim, Taesuk Jun, Yoojin Lee, Heesu Cho, Moonhyun Choi, Milae Lee, Du Yeol Ryu, Sang-Young Lee, Se Yong Jung, Jae-Kook Cha, Jung Yul Cha, Kee-Joon Lee, Sangmin Lee, Sung-Hwan Choi () and Jinkee Hong ()
Additional contact information
Woojin Choi: Yonsei University
Utkarsh Mangal: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Jae-Hun Yu: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Jeong-Hyun Ryu: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Ji‑Yeong Kim: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Taesuk Jun: Yonsei University
Yoojin Lee: Yonsei University
Heesu Cho: Yonsei University
Moonhyun Choi: Yonsei University
Milae Lee: Yonsei University
Du Yeol Ryu: Yonsei University
Sang-Young Lee: Yonsei University
Se Yong Jung: Yonsei University College of Medicine
Jae-Kook Cha: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Jung Yul Cha: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Kee-Joon Lee: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Sangmin Lee: Dongjak-gu
Sung-Hwan Choi: Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Jinkee Hong: Yonsei University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Medical plastic-appliance-based healthcare services, especially in dentistry, generate tremendous amounts of plastic waste. Given the physiological features of our mouth, it is desirable to substitute dental care plastics with viscoelastic and antimicrobial bioplastics. Herein, we develop a medical-grade and sustainable bioplastic that is viscoelastic enough to align the tooth positions, resists microbial contamination, and exhibits recyclable life cycles. In particular, we devise a molecular template involving entanglement-inducing and antimicrobial groups and prepare a silk fibroin-based dental care bioplastic. The generated compactly entangled structure endows great flexibility, toughness, and viscoelasticity. Therefore, a satisfactory orthodontic outcome is accomplished, as demonstrated by the progressive alignment of male rabbit incisors within the 2.5 mm range. Moreover, the prepared bioplastic exhibits resistance to pathogenic colonization of intraoral microbes such as Streptococcaceae and Veillonellaceae. Because the disentanglement of entangled domains enables selective separation and extraction of the components, the bioplastic can be recycled into a mechanically identical one. The proposed medical-grade and sustainable bioplastic could potentially contribute to a green healthcare future.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53489-7

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