US4672032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental enamel production
Assignee: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
•
Filing: 1983-11-09
•
Granted: 1987-06-09
•
Expires: 2003-11-09
Abstract
Abstract Methods are provided for the formation of dental enamel crystals in biosynthetic matrix form by the nucleation of calcium solutions with enamel proteins and for the use of such enamel crystals as restorative material.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold C. Slavkin
- 👤 Malcolm L. Snead
- 👤 Savio L. C. Woo
- 👤 Margarita Zeichner-David
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:08
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07K; C07K14/00; C07K14/435; C07K14/46; C07K14/47; A; A61; A61K; A61K6/00; A61K6/80; A61K6/831; A61K6/838; C12; C12P; C12P21/00; C12P21/06; A61K38/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for the formation of dental enamel crystals comprising mixing a solution containing calcium ions and phosphate ions with a mixture of proteins including an enamelin having a weight of from about 62 to 72 kd and an amelogenin having a weight of about 26, 28.5 or 30 kd in an enamelin-amelogenin ratio of about 1:10, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a serine protease at a pH of from about 7.2 to about 8.1 and at a temperature which retains the catalytic activity of the serine protease and results in the formation of dental enamel crystals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for the formation of dental enamel crystals comprising mixing a solution containing calcium ions and phosphate ions with a mixture of proteins including an enamelin having a weight of from about 62 to 72 kd and an amelogenin having a weight of about 26, 28.5 or 30 kd in an enamelin-amelogenin ratio of about 1:10, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a serine protease at a pH of from about 7.2 to about 8.1 and at a temperature which retains the catalytic activity of the serine protease and results in the formation of dental enamel crystals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solution is supersaturated with calcium phosphate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the solution further includes at least 5 ppm fluoride.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for the formation of dental enamel crystals comprising mixing a solution containing calcium ions and phosphate ions with a mixture of proteins including an enamelin having a weight of from about 62 to 72 kd and an amelogenin having a weight of about 26, 28.5 or 30 kd in an enamelin-amelogenin ratio of about 1:10, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a serine protease at a temperature of about 37° C. and a pH of from about 7.2 to about 8.1 which results in the formation of dental enamel crystals.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for the formation of dental enamel crystals comprising mixing a solution containing calcium ions and phosphate ions with a mixture of proteins including an enamelin having a weight of from about 62 to 72 kd and an amelogenin having a weight of about 26, 28.5 or 30 kd in an enamelin-amelogenin ratio of about 1:10, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a serine protease at a temperature of about 37° C. and a pH of from about 7.2 to about 8.1 which results in the formation of dental enamel crystals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said solution is supersaturated with calcium phosphate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 or 5 wherein the solution further includes at least 5 ppm fluoride.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4183915A
Cited
US4358856A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-08 | 1990-12-08 | 1991-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-08 | 1994-12-08 | 1995-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-12-08 | 1999-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |