Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Orhan E. O. (Yürütücü), Ersöz A., Doğan Bulut D., Özer B., Çalişkan G.
TÜSEB A4 Grubu Akademisyenlere Yönelik Ar-Ge Proje Destek Programı, 2025 - 2026
Biomineralization describes the process of producing minerals in living organisms; occurs in biological systemsthat synthesize minerals such as calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, silica, and iron oxide. In teeth andbones, apatite formation occurs due to calcium phosphate biomineralization, but mature enamel is uniquebecause it does not contain collagen. Investigation of the process that mimics the orientation, organization, andhydroxyapatite(HAp) transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate(ACP) nanoparticles during the enamel development process for therapeutic purposes is a source of inspiration for the fields of biotechnology andmaterials science. Amelogenin, the enamel matrix protein, forms the organic structure during enamel development and regulates the HAp transformation. Proteases degrade at the end of the process. The absenceof amelogenin in mature enamel is the reason for the failure of caries to heal, a global public health problem characterized by pathological demineralization. External and internal pharmacological devices with fluoridecomponents widely used in clinical practice are traditionally used for demineralization. However, thesedrawbacks are systemic toxic fluorosis and known local caustic side effects. Today, the formation of inorganichybrid life structures such as ACP and HAp can be controlled by mediating bioorganic matrices such as amelogenin. According to this hypothesis, the C-peptide fraction of amelogenin acts as a nanometric templateand initiates mineralization. In contrast, the N-peptide fraction mediates the growth of HAp, thus formingbiomineralization from ACP to HAp. The alternative brought by the search for a natural and sustainable solutionagainst demineralization is the production of peptides containing whole amelogenin or different fractions of amelogenin from biologically sourced porcine or recombinant sources. However, their limitations are difficulty in the translational clinical study, multi-stage and long production process, high costs, and poor affinity of theremineralized structure to the natural layer. This project aims to synthesize a biomaterial that can mimic thefunction of amelogenin, having an alternative potential in enamel treatment to deal with the difficulties of biologically derived amelogenin. A new approach based on biomimetic strategies with this biomaterial is plannedto be presented. More specifically, it is to synthesize a biomaterial that is not of biological origin, can accompanyoligomeric nanoparticles in the enamel biomineralization process, can provide HAp stacking via in situ andspontaneous mineralization from ACP to HAp, and can promote HAp crystal orientation and growth. The aims of this project are (i) to synthesize zinc-based zeolitic nanospheres with biomimetic arms that can mimic the C-peptide fraction of amelogenin, which is known to function in enamel biomineralization, (ii) to characterize thisbiomaterial in an ex vivo simulated environment.