Penn dentists bioengineer chewing gum for oral cancer
WHYY • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a bioengineered chewing gum infused with antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties aimed at combating microbes linked to oral, head, and neck cancers, including HPV.
- The gum contains a natural antiviral protein from hyacinth beans and an antimicrobial peptide, which together have shown early success in reducing HPV viral load by 93% and killing harmful bacteria associated with cancer.
- Ongoing clinical trials at Penn Medicine are evaluating the gum's effectiveness in reducing oral HPV levels and potentially preventing transmission between intimate partners, with hopes it could serve as a protective measure against cancer-causing viruses.
- Beyond cancer prevention, the gum is being tested for its ability to reduce viral loads of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and influenza, with larger trials planned in London, highlighting its potential public health benefits.
- NASA has shown interest in the gum for keeping astronauts healthy, suggesting the product could have applications even in space to help limit disease transmission.