Sugarcane Protein Powers Artificial Saliva for Teeth
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- FOB-USP researchers developed an artificial saliva using sugarcane protein CANECPI-5, which binds directly to tooth enamel to form a protective shield against acids from beverages like juice and alcohol, as well as stomach acid.
- The study, published in the Journal of Dentistry, showed CANECPI-5 works best when combined with fluoride and xylitol, reducing bacterial activity and slowing tooth demineralization in lab tests on animal teeth.
- Head and neck cancer patients who lose saliva production after radiotherapy are the primary target population, as no dedicated product currently exists for the severe cavities that often follow radiation treatment.
- The international collaboration brought together Brazil's FOB-USP and Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), the University of California San Francisco, and Yonsei University College of Dentistry in South Korea.
- CANECPI-5 was originally identified through the Sugarcane Genome Project (SUCEST, FAPESP) as a cystatin protein with strong binding to smooth surfaces — a lab quirk that led the team to test it on tooth enamel.
- The protein has been patented and successfully tested in three delivery formats — mouthwash, gel, and orodispersible film — with the next step being partnerships with companies to scale up production.
- Buzalaf's team plans to combine CANECPI-5 with vitamin E as a home-use delivery carrier and with a statherin-derived peptide to better protect teeth against stomach-origin acids.
Why it matters: The innovation addresses an unmet need for head and neck cancer survivors who develop severe dental decay after radiotherapy destroys salivary gland function and no dedicated treatment currently exists. With CANECPI-5 already patented and validated in three delivery formats, the bottleneck to commercialization is attracting industry partners to scale production — a plausible hurdle given the protein's dual action against both enamel erosion and oral bacteria.
