University of Minnesota to test Biosignal antibacterials for dental applications

Australian company Biosignal has signed a research agreement to enable the University of Minnesota to test biofilm inhibition of dental materials using Biosignal's antibacterial coatings.

The work is part of the collaboration with two US-based oral care experts - Dr Gary Jernberg and Dr Richard Simonsen - on a broad range of dental applications. The School of Dentistry at the University of Minnesota is internationally recognised as a leader in oral microbiology and periodontal disease prevention.

Biosignal has supplied the antibacterial compounds for the testing that will take place from March to June 2007. Biosignal will own intellectual property arising from the project. If the development is successful, Jernberg, Simonsen and Biosignal will seek to license the technology to leading dental product companies.

Biosignal's antibiofilm technology is based on a discovery that the eastern Australian seaweed Delisea pulchra produces natural furanones that disable bacteria's ability to colonise.

The fundamental problem with existing anti-bacterials is their tendency to produce resistant strains when faced with strong selective pressure by killing agents or growth-inhibitory agents. Furanones lull bacteria to inaction and appear to avoid the problem of bacterial resistance.

Biosignal produces synthetic compounds effective on inanimate surfaces such as pipes, membranes and medical devices; and animate surfaces such as lungs, skin and teeth.