Improving Oral Health with Fluoride-Free Calcium-Phosphate-Based Biomimetic Toothpastes: An Update of the Clinical Evidence

As the demand for clinically effective fluoride-free oral care products for consumers increases, it is important to document which types of toothpastes have been shown in clinical studies to be effective in improving oral health. In this review, we included different indications, i.e., caries prevention, improving periodontal health, reducing dentin hypersensitivity, protecting against dental erosion, and safely improving tooth whitening in defining what constitutes improvement in oral health. While there are several professional and consumer fluoride-containing formulations fortified with calcium-phosphate-based ingredients, this review focuses on fluoride-free toothpastes containing biomimetic calcium-phosphate-based molecules as the primary active ingredients. Several databases were searched, and only clinical trials in human subjects were included; in vitro and animal studies were excluded. There were 62 oral health clinical trials on biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HAP), 57 on casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), 26 on calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSPS, or so called Bioglass), and 2 on β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). HAP formulations were tested the most in clinical trials for benefits in preventing caries, dentin hypersensitivity, improving periodontal health, and tooth whitening. Based on the current clinical evidence to date, fluoride-free HAP toothpaste formulations are the most versatile of the calcium phosphate active ingredients in toothpastes for improving oral health.

Characterization and Dissolution Study of Micellar Curcumin-Spray Dried Powder for Oral Delivery

Introduction

Curcumin faces a major challenge in clinical use due to its poor aqueous solubility, which affects its bioavailability over oral use. The present study was carried out to overcome this problem.

Methods

An amorphous micellar curcumin-spray dried powder (MC-SDP) with self-assembled casein was prepared by the addition of sucrose as a protectant. The dry powder of curcumin-loaded micelles was obtained by a spray-drying technique in the presence of sucrose as a protectant. The MC-SDP in the form of dry powder was further developed into tablets to investigate the dissolution profile. The physical properties of preformed powder were characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative analysis in the form of solutions was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results

The physical properties demonstrated that MC-SDP varies from dented to smoother surfaces as a function of sucrose. Furthermore, melting transitions of curcumin in the form of MC-SDP were broadened in all sample mixtures, as observed in the DTA thermogram. The XRD spectra showed that the sharp and very intense peaks of single curcumin crystalline structure no longer existed in all MC-SDP forms, indicating that the mixtures were amorphous. Moreover, a further dissolution study of MC-SDP showed a significant increase of drug dissolved with the presence of sucrose, where >80% of curcumin from MC-SDP was dissolved within 30 min.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated the manufacture of micellar spray-dried powder that would contribute to the development of oral delivery of curcumin.