A robot with the ability to chew can provide useful insights on medicated chewing gum for pharmaceutical companies. The study, published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, shows how humanoid jaws can be an excellent in-vitro model for testing drug release from medicated chewing gum.
Learn more about earlier research on the chewing robot from the University of Bristol researchers:
The purpose of the research study was to provide a replicating environment closely relevant to the human chewing motion. It even includes salvia and also stimulates the release of xylitol from the gum.
"Bioengineering has been used to create an artificial oral environment that closely mimics that found in humans,” says Dr. Kazem Alemzadeh, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, who led the research. "Our research has shown the chewing robot gives pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to investigate medicated chewing gum, with reduced patient exposure and lower costs using this new method."
The study compared the amount of xylitol remaining in the gum between the chewing robot and human participants as well as the amount of xylitol released form the chewing gum.
Nicola West, Professor in Restorative Dentistry in the Bristol Dental School and co-author, added: "The most convenient drug administration route to patients is through oral delivery methods. This research, utilising a novel humanoid artificial oral environment, has the potential to revolutionise investigation into oral drug release and delivery."
Source: Science Daily
