Release of Collagen and Protein from Teeth Treated with Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips. Volume 4 - Issue 4

Kelly Keenan*, Akua Amoah, Silkey Patel and Luke T. Ngo

• *Biochemistry Molecular Biology, Stockton University, Galloway, USA

Received: February 08, 2021   Published: February 19, 2021

Corresponding author: Kelly Keenan, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ 08205 USA

DOI: 10.32474/MADOHC.2021.04.000194

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Abstract

The aim was to characterize the effect of over-the-counter whitening strips on proteins in teeth. The active ingredient is Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2). Teeth, either treated or untreated, were dialyzed against 10% EDTA pH 9.0; the dialysis fluid contained all proteins other than collagen and was measured with Lowry assay. Collagen was extracted from the teeth and a modified version of the Lowry assay and hydroxyproline assays were used to measure it. A novel method was developed to measure the protein and collagen released from teeth into the surrounding fluid. The Molecular Weights (MW) of proteins were measured using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). There was a 15% and 37% loss of non-collagen proteins after one and three rounds of treatments. These values were 32% and 55% for collagen and 49% and 80% for hydroxyproline. The MW (70,11 and 130 kDa) of the proteins in these fractions matched those of proteins in teeth. No protein was released from teeth into the surrounding fluid without application of whitening strips but with strips, there was protein. Non-collagen protein averaged 0.2867mg/ml for one round of treatments and 1.240mg/ml for collagen. The MW of proteins released are slightly smaller than those extracted from teeth. Over-the-counter whitening strips resulted in a decrease of non-collagen and collagen protein in teeth. In addition, both types of protein were released from treated teeth; none was observed in untreated teeth.

Keywords: Whitening Strips; Collagen; Hydrogen Peroxide; Protein

Abstract| Introduction| Materials and Methods| Results| Discussion| Conclusion| Acknowledgement| References|