Carbohydrate-based oral microbiome modulation for improved gum health
A novel approach using specific carbohydrates to modulate the oral microbiome, promoting gum health by targeting microbial communities while preserving microbiome balance. This strategy utilizes oligosaccharides, arabinoxylans, and β-D-glucans to influence microbial ecology and biofilm formation, offering an alternative to broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
Overview
This solution focuses on developing carbohydrate-based strategies to improve oral health by modulating the microbiome. Unlike traditional antimicrobials that disrupt microbiome balance, these carbohydrates selectively influence microbial communities, promoting resilience and long-term gum health. The use of oligosaccharides, arabinoxylans, and β-D-glucans, including those from sustainable mushroom sources, offers a targeted approach to oral care.
Technical specifications
Candidate carbohydrates are characterized using advanced techniques such as NMR, GC–MS, and SEC–MALS to ensure their efficacy and compatibility in formulations. The solution evaluates these materials for their ability to modulate the microbiome, inhibit biofilm formation, and maintain biocompatibility in oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwash. This involves testing for microbiome modulation, biofilm-related activity, bacterial adhesion, and inflammatory responses, ensuring the actives are suitable for next-generation formulations.
Technology readiness level
Currently at TRL 3, this technology has undergone initial characterization and laboratory validation. Further development is underway to enhance formulation compatibility and performance in oral care products.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research institution in West Lafayette, Indiana, anchored by a large residential campus. Industry engages through co‑located core facilities, pilot‑scale testbeds, and an adjacent innovation district that brings together labs, corporate R&D space, and maker resources near faculty talent. A statewide Extension network and an established engineering co‑op program connect companies to field sites, workforce pipelines, and pragmatic pathways from concept to deployment across Indiana. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from NSF, DOE, USDA, NIH, and the Department of Defense, and commercialization is managed by a dedicated technology transfer office in partnership with the university’s affiliated research foundation.
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