Self-assembly Peptide for Dental Enamel Biomimetics

Objective: This study aimed at finding a biomimetic approaches for dental enamel. Methods: Peptide T2, was designed and synthesized in this study. And T2's performance in water solution was observed under TEM(Transmission Electronic Microscope) to find its self-assemble behavior. After that, the double-diffusion system was applied on T2 to investigate its mineralization features in vitro. The time need for calcium phosphate precipitation formed in the system was record and compared with control groups. The shape pattern of the precipitation was also compared with crystals separated from human dental enamel by TEM. Results: T2, a kind of PA(Peptide Amphiphile) molecule, is able to be synthesized by standard solid-phase chemistry, and purified by HPLC(High Performance Liquid Chromatography). T2 can self-assemble in water solution and buildup reticulate nano-fibers whose diameter divers from 10 to 60 nm, but length up to several micrometers. The result of mineralization in double diffusion system showed that T2 could reduce the HA(Hydroxyapatite) precipitation formation period obviously. And the HA crystals were found in needle-like shape compared with ball-like shape and irregulate shape in liquid system. Moreover, when compared with crystals separated from human dental enamel, these needle-like crystals are similar with those in dental enamel at least in appearance. Conclusion: According to these result, the conclusion could be drawn as T2, the amphiphilic peptide can be designed and synthesized by artificial means, and this artificial molecule can prompt the calcium phosphate formation in double diffusion system. Hydroxyapatite crystals formed in needle-like shape which close to HA crystals in dental enamel both in shape and size. So, T2 might be taken as a potential molecule for dental enamel biomimetics.