Biomaterials from Potsdam for Charité Dentists
Cluster Member Cécile Bidan Receives Further Funding
In 2021, Cluster member Cecile Bidan received further funding for the interdisciplinary research project »InterDent«, together with dental colleagues at the Charité. Its goal is to make dental fillings or crowns more durable in the future. The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding this project with 2.1 million euros, initially for three years.
»Together with dental colleagues from Charité, we will study how mineralized biofilms interact with artificial filling materials. Ultimately, this fundamental knowledge will help designing such materials to prevent the deposition of dental calculus or tartar« said materials scientist Dr. Cécile Bidan, group leader in the Department of Biomaterials at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) and Associated Investigator at »Matters of Activity«. With Dr. Laura Zorzetto, a biomedical engineer at MPICI, she is investigating the formation, the growth and the mineralization of biofilms, which are naturally formed during bacterial colonization of tooth surfaces and fillings.
It is a special feature of the research project »InterDent« that fundamental researchers and dental clinicians are working together to develop new materials based on fundamental principles, in order to quickly create materials that are more suitable for practical use. In this context, the benefits are definitely reciprocal. »This project not only enables the translation of results from basic research into practice, but also, conversely, the inspiration of basic research by clinical issues,« said Prof. Peter Fratzl, Director of the Department of Biomaterials at MPICI and Co-Director of »Matters of Activity«.
The scientists and dentists use tools from materials engineering with approaches from dental research to improve existing dental restoration materials. In dental caries filling materials made of polymer-based composites, metal alloys and various ceramics for instance are used but the durability varies greatly. In this context, learning from the interactions between strongly adherent calculus and restored tooth surfaces is essential.
»InterDent« names a research collaboration between the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, the Dental Clinic of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Technical University of Berlin and the Helmholtz Center Berlin. In total, the research project consists of four interdisciplinary subprojects, coordinated by Dr. Paul Zaslansky (Charité) and Dr. Claudia Fleck (TU). Dr. Bidan is leading the described subproject in association with Prof. Sebastian Paris, Scientific Director of the Institute of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine of the Charité.
Further information on the Biomaterials Department:
https://www.mpikg.mpg.de/biomaterials
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
Potsdam Science Park
Am Mühlenberg 1
14476 Potsdam-Golm