MNT SmartSolutions, LLC, a New Mexico Start-Up Factory Portfolio company, recently closed on an exclusive option agreement with UNM Rainforest Innovations to license a novel antimicrobial portfolio developed by a group of researchers at the University of New Mexico and University of Texas, Austin.
MNT SmartSolutions is a biotech company that is engineering sustainable and modern “smart” materials with unique electronic and magnetic properties for the advancement of science and medicine. These novel materials are effective in treating periodontal disease and gingivitis by reaching the bacteria beneath the gum line in a non-invasive and ecofriendly application. The technology also has great potential as a topical and internal anti-bacterial treatment for wounds, abrasions and virtually any application in which antimicrobial action is sought.
In May of 2022, MNT SmartSolutions received an NSF Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Grant for $256,000. The main purpose of the project is to commercialize a novel, interactive toothpaste and toothbrush combination based on the miracle of nanotechnology. Our nanocomposites can be used to treat and prevent microbial growth and plaque formation in the mouth, be targeted to an infected area, even below the gum line, and exert instantaneous and sustained-release effects. This smart toothpaste can be remotely controlled, switched on and off, move, scrub, and generate heat when used in combination with the interactive toothbrush. This product has the potential to revolutionize the oral care industry, which has remained unchanged for as long as most people can remember.
The MNT SmartSolutions team consists of biologists, toxicologists, pharmaceutical and environmental scientists, engineers, and business professionals working together to prioritize green-chemistry methods and environmentally friendly components. Their short-term goals are to determine the safest and most effective dosages and application intervals in 3D histotypic culture and an animal model. They are also working toward obtaining a good manufacturing practice (GMP) product for the good laboratory practice (GLP) preclinical studies required by the FDA. This work will prepare them for a pre-investigational new drug meeting with the FDA in preparation for human clinical trials.
MNT SmartSolutions was created by the New Mexico Start-Up Factory Team and University of New Mexico/Texas A & M Researcher Dr. Leisha Armijo-Martin. To learn more, reach out to Andrea M. Garcia, Vice President of operations for New Mexico Start-Up Factory at andrea@nmsuf.com.