Through the CNPEM acceleration program, AG3 develops research to prevent cavities and formulations that inhibit bacterial infiltration in restored teeth
AG3 Research and Experimental Development, a Brazilian dentistry startup, is developing two unprecedented technologies to make tooth decay treatment less invasive and painless. With the support of the DeepTech Acceleration Program (PACE) from the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), the company is advancing in the improvement of a product to prevent the formation of cavities and a formulation to inhibit bacterial infiltration in restored teeth.
André Galembeck and Ohanna Costa, CNPEM researcher, at the Imbuia beamline
“The two new technologies emerged from a previous research, in which an antibacterial formula composed of silver nanoparticles was developed and, through testing on more than 3,000 children, has already proven capable of treating even deeper cavities. Now, with the CNPEM’s support, we are developing these two important products for dental treatment that have the same active ingredient, including a product that prevents infiltration in already restored teeth”, explains André Galembeck, one of the AG3’s founders.
To develop these new product fronts, AG3 uses the infrastructure of Sirius, the CNPEM synchrotron light source, to investigate the formation of bacterial biofilms, an initial stage in the development of tooth cavities. Advanced techniques such as double-beam microscopy, high-resolution tomography, and atomic force microscopy allows the analysis, at the
nanometer level, of how bacteria interact with the surface of teeth and evaluation of how new materials can block this process.
“Access to CNPEM through PACE is essential for our projects, as we have the opportunity to access infrastructure that does not exist anywhere else in Brazil. Because our technology involves nanoscale materials, safety is a priority. We have the support of the nanotoxicology laboratory and the safe-by-design approach, which gives us confidence that we will be able to serve, in the future, even the most demanding markets in terms of legislation and regulation”, says Galembeck.
The next steps for the projects include advancing clinical studies and seeking strategic partnerships to scale the solutions. The new products are expected to be available to dentists and patients in the coming years.
“The case of AG3 is a clear example of the importance of providing cutting-edge infrastructure and strategic investment so that startups can increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of their solutions. With this, we are able to transform promising research into real innovations for the market”, says Claudia Caparelli, from CNPEM’s Innovation Support Assistance department.
PACE: DeepTech Acceleration Program
AG3 is one of the three startups selected in the pilot edition of PACE, a free initiative by CNPEM that aims to support science and technology-based startups (deeptechs) in overcoming technical challenges and validating their products.
Through the program, CNPEM offers a complete technological acceleration environment and its experts closely monitor the projects. Companies also receive business training. The only requirement of PACE is that one of the controlling partners must be present at the acceleration and training activities, in addition to the startups assuming the costs of used materials and travels to CNPEM.
According to Claudia Caparelli, “PACE’s vision is to contribute to increasing the success rate of startups in the market, supporting the creation of innovative businesses based on research at the cutting edge of science and engineering, and ensuring that scientific ideas are transformed into applicable and scalable technologies”. “We hope to soon open a new public call so that other startups can participate in our program”, she concludes.
To learn more about the DeepTech Acceleration Program (PACE) click here.
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
