Open Innovation Technical Need

Oral microbiome modulation for improved gum health

Description

We are looking for new ingredients, raw materials, and technologies that can be incorporated into conventional oral care products, including toothpaste and ideally mouthwash, to beneficially modulate the oral microbiome and help prevent or reverse dysbiosis associated with gingivitis.

Background

Recent advances in sequencing technologies, systems biology, and computational modeling have significantly improved understanding of the oral microbiome. Under healthy conditions, the oral microbiome exists in a benign and balanced relationship with host tissues. However, shifts in this microbial community (dysbiosis) are a key aetiological factor underpinning gingivitis. If left unresolved, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, and result in tooth loss; furthermore, periodontitis has been associated with systemic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease.

Clearer differentiation between health-associated and disease-associated microbial communities is now possible, and research is beginning to elucidate the pathways that govern microbial balance and stability. While interest in microbiome modulation through everyday consumer products is increasing, most oral care approaches remain focused on broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity rather than selectively supporting beneficial microbial communities. This gap creates an opportunity to develop targeted strategies with the potential to guide the oral microbiome toward a healthier and more resilient state.

Ingredients incorporated into everyday oral care products that can modulate microbiome balance may offer the potential to protect against transitions from healthy microbiome to dysbiosis, thereby reducing the development of gingivitis; treat early-stage dysbiosis and gingival inflammation to restore a healthy state; and build resilience by promoting a microbiome composition that is more resistant to future dysbiotic shifts.

Key Success Criteria

Must-have Requirements

Data proving efficacy in vitro or in vivo performance of the actives/technologies/formats
Preliminary stability data or a scientifically justified rationale supporting expected stability under relevant storage conditions
Safe and suitable for daily oral use, with safety and toxicity information provided, or a plan to generate it
Cost-effective for inclusion in a daily-use consumer product (provide indicative cost/kg)
Regulatory pathway identified, including applicable frameworks (e.g., cosmetic, OTC, MDR), with indication of GRAS status or equivalent where relevant

Preferred Requirements

Suitable for formulation into oral care formats
Compatible with conventional oral care product excipients and actives including fluoride, surfactants, flavors
Acceptable taste and sensory attributes, with any negative aspects clearly identified
Commercially available or expected to reach commercialization within 3-5 years
Defined or hypothesized mechanism of action

Possible Approaches

Ingredients that will beneficially modulate the microbiome to prevent or reverse dysbiotic shifts associated with gingivitis
Ingredients which would modify the environment in the oral cavity or in specific parts of the oral cavity to favor health
Prebiotics: ingredients comprising nutrients for beneficial oral microbes
Postbiotics: ingredients comprising inactivated (typically pasteurized/heat killed) microorganisms and/or their products/metabolites
Targeted delivery systems for oral microbiome modulation
Technologies enabling sustained or localized release in the oral cavity
Smart or responsive systems triggered by oral conditions (e.g., pH, inflammation)

Approaches not of Interest

Solutions incorporating live microorganisms (probiotics)
Technologies containing zinc as an active component
Engineered nanomaterials subject to regulatory restrictions
Solutions that deliver supplementary benefits which can be classed as having medicinal action

Preferred Collaboration

Academic researchers
Startups
Suppliers
Service Providers (CROs/CMOs)
Consultants

Additional Information

Acceptable technology readiness levels (TRL): 3–9