Due to the favorable temperature, humidity, and nutrient-rich environment in the oral cavity, it provides an ideal setting for microbial growth and colonization. Oral diseases such as dental caries are biofilm-related conditions caused by dietary factors and the oral microbiome. They primarily result from interactions among oral microorganisms on the tooth surfaces. Excessive consumption of dietary sugars by humans can lead to a decrease in pH at the tooth-biofilm interface, causing demineralization of the teeth and the development of dental caries. While there are various treatment strategies for dental caries, many of the available anti-caries agents cannot remain in the oral cavity for an extended period, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes.

Inspired by salivary proteins, this research direction aims to graft appropriate functional groups or proteins onto materials, enabling them to target tooth surfaces, prolonging their residency time in the oral cavity, and enhancing their therapeutic efficacy. Combined with the design of multifunctional material systems, this approach provides a theoretical foundation and guiding strategies for the development of antimicrobial multifunctional materials for hard tissues.