Evaluation of enamel remineralizing potential of self-assembling peptide P(11)-4 on artificially induced enamel lesions in vitro.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the remineralizing efficacy of self-assembling peptide (SAP) P(11)-4 qualitatively and quantitatively using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), respectively. METHODOLOGY: Enamel samples (n = 24) were prepared by sectioning extracted premolars and subjected for demineralization to create artificial enamel lesions. The structural and elemental concentrations (calcium and phosphate weight %) were assessed to obtain baseline data using SEM and EDX spectroscopy, respectively. The samples were randomly allocated into two groups and were treated with SAP P(11)-4 (test group) and casein phosphopeptides-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) (control group) followed by storage in artificial saliva to evaluate the remineralizing efficacy at 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month intervals. RESULTS: Data were analyzed using the ANOVA and unpaired t-test. From the observed results, CPP-ACP showed a significant increase in Ca: P ratio (2.04 +/- 0.2) with irregular surface calcific deposition at 1-week interval and this reduced with time (1.87 +/- 0.11 at 3-month interval). Whereas P(11)-4 showed a significant increase in Ca: P ratio (1.95 +/- 0.10) with uniform ion deposition suggestive of hydroxyapatite nucleation over a 3-month period. CONCLUSION: SAP P(11)-4 exhibited superior remineralization with uniform mineral deposition compared to CPP-ACP at 3-month interval.