Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that can destroy dangerous viruses and bacteria linked to head and neck cancer, reports infohub.kz.
The research team, led by Henry Daniell from the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, created the product based on hyacinth beans. The gum contains the natural antiviral protein FRIL, which fights microorganisms that cause head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
In laboratory tests on saliva and oral rinse samples from patients, the gum extract reduced human papillomavirus (HPV) levels by 93% and 80%, respectively. Additionally, the researchers modified the gum by adding the antimicrobial peptide protegrin, which reduced the concentration of pathogenic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum to nearly zero.
Importantly, the product does not harm the beneficial microflora of the oral cavity. The authors of the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, believe that the development could be used as an affordable adjunct therapy or preventive measure.