A team of engineers and researchers are developing nanotechnology-based oral healthcare products that could hit the market within the next four to five years, the Albuquerque Journal reported Aug. 21.
The products include a remote-controlled, magnetic toothpaste and toothbrush that could apply antibacterial solutions to the gums and teeth to target bad bacteria.
The team designing the products is made up of engineers, biologists, toxicologists, pharmaceutical, environmental scientists and research engineers from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M.,, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi and the University of Bristol Dental School in England.
Startup MNT SmartSolutions is working on bringing the products to the market. The company inked a licensing deal with the University of New Mexico and University of Texas in July.
MNT hopes to offer the products to orthodontists as well as directly to consumers. Initial lab testing on cells has shown the technology to be safe and effective, but more research is planned on animals and human clinical trials before seeking FDA approval, according to John Chavez, CFO of MNT SmartSolutions.