Biofilm-associated cells disclose an organized structure able to drastically resist antimicrobial agents and host immune responses. In view of the serious impact of biofilms on human health, potential strategies to fight oral disease have been notoriously explored through the antimicrobial-based possibilities capable of interfering with the bacterial adhesion process. However, the lack of commercial antimicrobial products raises some questions regarding the challenges involved in developing a marketable invention. Challenges might be related both to the building and functionalization of the antimicrobial biomaterial, as well as to the understanding of how to make a product commercially viable and interesting for the industry.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Building antimicrobial biomaterials for dental applications
- Strategies toward development of antimicrobial biomaterials for dental applications
- Pre-clinical challenges: antimicrobial desired effect vs material cytotoxicity
- Laboratory studies vs. clinical application
- Optimizing basic science to translate the idea to a product
