Understanding effects of formulations on ingredient interaction with tissue culture models of the oral epithelium

This project will investigate the establishment and validation of tissue engineered oral mucosal equivalents as a high throughput screening tool for selected actives and excipients used in products to maintain and protect oral health.
Specifically, we aim to
(i) Investigate the barrier properties of oral mucosal equivalents (ii) Penetration and uptake of actives including chlorhexidine, CPC, CPC-zinc and zinc-isopropylmethyl phenol in oral equivalents and in porcine buccal tissue (iii) How the uptake of selected excipients commonly used in oral healthcare products influences the penetration of these actives (iv) If the nature of the excipients and quantities may be modified for optimal delivery of actives in oral equivalents (v)The capability of oral tissue equivalents to predict uptake of actives and excipients in porcine buccal tissue

Objectives: 1. Establishment and characterisation of oral tissue equivalent models 2. Characterisation of active and excipient permeation in oral tissue equivalents using conventional analytical methods (GC, HPLC, NMR) flame absorption atomic spectroscopy as well as advanced techniques including confocal Raman spectroscopy. 3. Evaluate efficacy of oral tissue equivalents for engineering novel formulations for oral health conditions

This project will establish new models of the oral epithelium for rapid development and screening of formulations for management of oral health and will be of considerable interest to academia and industry.