Hagfish-inspired hydrogel for root caries: A multifunctional approach including immediate protection, antimicrobial phototherapy, and remineralization

Root caries is the main cause of oral pain and tooth loss in the elderly. Protecting root lesions from environmental disturbances, resisting pathogens, and facilitating remineralization over time are essential for addressing root caries, but are challenging due to the irregular root surface and the complex oral environment. Hagfish secretes slime when facing danger, which converts into gels upon contact with seawater, suffocating the predators. Inspired by hagfish's defense mechanism, a fluid-hydrogel conversion strategy is proposed to establish a mechanical self-regulating multifunctional platform for root caries treatment. The fluid system (silk fibroin-tannic acid-black phosphorene-urea, ST-BP-U), in which urea disrupts the hydrogen bonds between silk fibroin and tannic acid, can easily spread on the irregular root surface and permeate into dentinal tubules. Upon contact with the surrounding water, urea diffuses, prompting the hydrogel re-formation and creating intimate attachments with micromechanical inlay locks. Meanwhile, BP increases the crosslinking of the re-formed hydrogel network, resulting in reinforced cohesion for robust wet adhesion to the tooth root. This process establishes a structured platform for effective antimicrobial phototherapy and dentin remineralization promotion. This water-responsive fluid-hydrogel conversion system adapts to the irregular root surface in the dynamic wet environment, holding promise for addressing root caries.

Statement of significance

Root caries bring a heavy burden to the aging society, but the irregular root surface and dynamic moist oral environment always hinder non-surgical therapeutic effects. Here, we propose a water-responsive fluid-hydrogel conversion strategy aimed at mechanical self-regulation on the irregular and wet root interface to construct a functional structural platform. The liquid system (ST-BP-U) that prebreak intermolecular hydrogen bonds can easily spread on irregular surfaces and dentin tubules. When encountering water, hydrogen bonds re-form, and BP increases the crosslinking of the hydrogel formed in situ. Based on this firm wet-adhesion platform, it provides powerful phototherapy effects and promotes dentin remineralization. This fluid-hydrogel conversion system turns the disadvantages of wet environment into advantages, offering a promising strategy for root caries.