Open Innovation Technical Need

Novel Fixative Technologies for Superior Denture Hold and User Experience

Description

We are looking for new ingredients, raw materials, and technologies that offer an alternative to current denture fixative technologies [PVM/MA (polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic acid) copolymer double salts, standard PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) polymers, and cellulose gums]. These ingredients will need to be suitable to be formulated into a daily-use denture fixative product. Performance of finished products will be evaluated via a range of methodologies including, but not limited to rheology, separation force, work of adhesion, and movement.

Background

Consumers who wear dentures want them to feel secure, comfortable, and discreet throughout the day, especially while eating and speaking. Although current denture fixatives can provide retention, many users remain dissatisfied with the overall experience and lack confidence that existing products will keep dentures securely in place in a way that feels natural. Users often want their dentures to behave more like natural teeth, without drawing attention to the fact that they wear them. A key unmet need is achieving reliable, all-day hold while still allowing the denture to be removed easily at the end of the day. In addition, many current products are perceived as messy, oozy, or unpleasant during use, and adhesive residue can be difficult to remove from both the mouth and the denture. Another important challenge is maintaining a lasting seal between the denture and gum to help prevent food ingress during wear. Because denture adhesives remain in the mouth for extended periods and may be partially ingested, consumers may also be cautious about technologies that appear overly strong, harsh, or otherwise unsuitable for prolonged oral exposure. Existing formulation approaches have reached relative technical maturity, creating an opportunity for new materials and technologies that can deliver a step change in hold, seal, comfort, and overall user experience.

Key Success Criteria

Must-have Requirements

Suitable for safe daily oral use, with a credible path to regulatory acceptance for denture fixative applications
Compatible with formulation into a denture fixative product format
Demonstrates a credible mechanism for improving hold, seal, usage experience, and/or ease of removal

Preferred Requirements

Acceptable taste and sensory profile, with known trade-offs clearly identified
Sustainable solutions (e.g., low CO2 footprint vs. PVM/MA)
Commercially available, or capable of commercialization within 3 to 5 years
Clear proposed mechanism of action
Provides additional non-medicinal benefits, such as improved freshness perception or reduced food trapping

Possible Approaches

Mucoadhesive polymers with improved wet adhesion and clean removal
Bioinspired adhesion systems for wet oral environments
Moisture-responsive or thermo-responsive materials
Oral-safe pressure-sensitive adhesive systems
Materials that improve seal formation at the denture–gum interface
Non-zinc adhesion/cohesion modifiers, tackifiers, or plasticizers
Structured gels or viscoelastic networks that reduce ooze and mess
Film-forming or barrier-forming materials that reduce food ingress
Multi-component systems separating hold, seal, and removability functions
New denture fixative formats such as strips, films, pads, or precision-applied systems

Approaches not of Interest

PVM/MA (polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic acid) copolymer double salts
Technologies containing zinc
Nanotechnology
Solutions whose primary mode of action is medicinal, therapeutic, or pharmacological

Preferred Collaboration

Partnership models:

Co-development
Licensing
Fee-for-service
Supply/purchase
Equity investment
Sponsored research

Additional Information

Sponsored research: Funding is proposal-dependent, starting with a proof-of-concept project that has the potential for expansion based on results and opportunities. The funding range is typically from $25,000 to $100,000 for a six-month project.