Sodium fluoride

Researchers synthesize fluorine-based compound via rapid biphasic (gas and liquid) mixing. How short is one second? The duration of a second can be defined as one 86,400th of a 24-hour day. A bullet train traveling at 300 km per hour can cover a distance of 83 meters in one second. On average, an individual's blink lasts for 0.3 seconds, allowing for three blinks to occur within one second. A joint team of researchers from POSTECH has proposed a synthesis method for fluorine-based compound via a rapid mixing reaction between a gaseous component and liquid that takes less than a single second. The research team led by Professor Dong-Pyo Kim and Jeong-Un Joo (Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH), and Professor Heejin Kim and Hyune-Jea Lee (currently, a researcher at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology) from the Department of Chemistry at Korea University has successfully developed a new method for synthesizing trifluoromethyl intermediate (-CF3) from fluoroform (CHF3). It involves the use of a special reactor capable of achieving an ultra-fast mixing between gas and liquid. This method offers promising prospects for the synthesis of novel fluorine-based new drugs. The research was published in Nature Communications. Fluorine is not found in its pure form naturally, but instead exists solely in the form of various chemical compounds. Sodium fluoride, a compound containing fluorine, is used as an ingredient in toothpaste due to its ability to coat teeth and prevent cavities. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of synthetic drug molecules containing fluorine as they possess high permeability into cell membranes of diseased tissues and exhibit strong binding affinity against proteins. Consequently, there is growing interest in the development of drugs containing fluorine. There are several approaches to synthesizing trifluoromethyl, but the most cost-effective method involves substituting a hydrogen atom from fluoroform, a simple precursor, with another element or functional group. However, gaseous fluoroform is volatile, which makes it difficult to mix with liquids and exhibits low reactivity. Moreover, it decomposes instantly, requiring the addition of a substance that can react with it. Unfortunately, this process can result in unintended chemical reactions that lead to a low yield of trifluoromethyl. To address the challenge of synthesizing trifluoromethyl from fluoroform, the research team developed a novel gas-liquid reactor with a zigzag-shaped channel and highly permeable non-porous membranes sandwiched between upper and lower channels. This configuration allowed for the swirling and mixing of superbase, a liquid utilized for dehydrogenation, and gaseous fluoroform within the reactor. By breaking fluoroform bubbles into smaller pieces to increase the contact area between gas and liquid, the team was able to effectively produce trifluoromethyl anion (CF3-). Unlike traditional approaches, they produced a fluoride intermediate effectively without requiring stabilizers or additives. The research team synthesized a fluorine-based compound by immediately adding a compound that will react with the fluoride anion intermediate. The entire process, which involved the generation of a fluorine anion intermediate from fluoroform took place within a second. The team maximized the formation of a trifluoromethyl anion, which is known to be short-lived, and rapidly facilitated the subsequent reaction before the intermediate decomposed. This method allowed for improved yield of fluoride-based compounds and introduced a robust technique for the synthesis of fluorine-based drugs. The research findings have significant implications for industrial applications in the economically efficient synthesis of fluoride compounds, making them more practical as well contributing significantly to studies on several unstable intermediates. The study was conducted with the support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.

With the prevailing situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic – and the resultant dental industry market recession – there is one thing on every dentist’s mind: “What does the future hold for us?” While we can’t control the future, we can be sure of one thing — 10 years down the road, we can expect remarkable changes in the dental industry that will completely revolutionize dental healthcare facilities worldwide. 3D Printing Technology As we move forward, dental treatment is expected to become less time-consuming. Compared with conventional laboratory-made restorations, dental restorations fabricated using the CAD-CAM technology are not only dimensionally accurate and aesthetically more pleasant, but they also possess lesser structural flaws, making them much more durable. Although more and more dentists are investing in 3D printing technology, the next decade will witness an unprecedented reliance of dentists on the fabrication of dental restorations with the computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology. The possibilities are endless. It’s not just dental restorations; the day is not far when dentists will be able to 3D print teeth as well. Artificial Intelligence The medical industry has already started to benefit from artificial intelligence in various ways. Unfortunately, the dental industry has been slow in adopting this promising technology. But this is going to change in the near future. From caries diagnosis to early detection of malignant lesions, patient record management, and diagnostic imaging, computers and software will be assisting dentists in making more accurate and effective clinical decisions in the years to come. Digital Dentistry In a world where every industry is increasingly relying upon digital systems and equipment, why should the dental market be left behind? Even today, many dentists use physical impressions for the fabrication of crowns and veneers – even in implant dentistry. Digital impressions are much more accurate and dimensionally stable. More importantly, they can be seamlessly integrated with CAD-CAM systems for the chairside fabrication of dental restorations. Tooth Remineralization According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the worldwide number of individuals older than 60 is expected to rise from 900 million in 2015 to 2 billion by 2050. Consequently, there has been a rise in the global incidence of root caries. The current surgical-restorative model for managing dental caries – especially root caries – has become globally unfeasible. Hence, over the years, the trend is expected to shift from “surgical” restoration to a “minimally invasive, medical model” using novel remineralizing agents such as sodium fluoride and amorphous calcium phosphate. Among these agents, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has gained considerable attention due to its ability to effectively arrest and prevent root caries. It is expected that more and more dentists will adopt this novel remineralization agent, which will prove especially beneficial in caries management in rural, under-developed areas – or for high-risk patients. Not only this, a team of researchers is working on a novel remineralization method – electrically accelerated and enhanced remineralization (EAER). This method, which is expected to be clinically available in the coming years, will allow for the remineralization of enamel and dentine tissue, restoring mild to moderate caries without the need for restorative treatment. Augmented Reality Imagine practicing your clinical skills – or teaching your students without the need for live patients. This is going to be a reality soon, thanks to augmented reality. In the coming years, dental students will learn and practice various clinical procedures anytime, anywhere. Not only this, dentists will be able to use augmented reality for educating and counseling their patients. From oral hygiene instructions to showing tooth defects in realtime and suggesting appropriate treatment modalities, the opportunities are endless for augmented reality in dentistry. Teledentistry The Covid-19 pandemic has completely revolutionized the dental industry. Dentists now only ask patients to come to their offices only when physical treatment is needed. When it comes to regular oral hygiene checkups – or other services that do not require the physical presence of the patients, dentists now offer teledentistry services. While the Covid-19 will hopefully be a thing of the past soon, teledentistry is here to stay. According to the American TeleDentistry Association, around 20% of Americans live in rural areas that lack dental care access. Teledentistry can solve this problem in the coming years. How convenient would it be for the patients? No matter where you live, you don’t need to take a break from work or pick your kids from school for a dentist’s appointment. Simply log in from your smartphones and let your dentist examine your oral health or your Invisalign treatment progress. Similarly, in case of an emergency, teledentistry will allow patients to seek immediate advice from the dentist while waiting for a physical appointment. The list of changes we can expect in the years to come is endless. But we can be sure about one thing – the future is promising for the dental industry and dental patients. We can expect the introduction of novel and groundbreaking technologies that will immensely benefit both the dentists and the patients over the years. So, let’s hope for the best and be a part of that change.