Hierarchical biomimetic strategy for dental enamel regeneration at the extreme nanoscale

Journal article

Abstract Reconstructing complex hierarchical structures across length scales remains a central challenge in advanced manufacturing of high-performance nanomaterials. Regenerating dental enamel provides an extreme and illustrative example of this problem. In this Highlight, we discuss a recent supramolecular strategy that enables structurally integrated enamel regeneration directly on native tooth surfaces. Building on earlier work in supramolecular mineralisation, the reported elastin-like recombinamer matrix directs epitaxial crystal growth, reconstructs prismatic enamel architecture and restores mechanical properties approaching those of natural tissue. This advance illustrates how interface-adaptive supramolecular control can overcome the limitations of conventional surface-based repair approaches. More broadly, it establishes transferable design principles for biomimetic hierarchical nanomaterial fabrication, while highlighting remaining challenges and opportunities for accelerating and translating such strategies in both manufacturing and clinical contexts.

Authors: Chang, J; Tan, J; Korsunsky, AM

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Journal: International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 051503
• Article number: 051503
• Publication date: 2026-06-10
• Acceptance date: 2026-05-28
• DOI: 10.1088/2631-7990/ae7488
• EISSN: 2631-7990
• ISSN: 2631-8644
• Language: English
• Keywords: Enamel paint; Regeneration (biology); Supramolecular chemistry; Biomimetic materials; Biomimetics; Nanomaterials; Supramolecular polymers