IPB Students Utilizing Nanocalcium of Shrimp Waste as Mouthwash to Strengthen Teeth
Currently, shrimp processing industry produce the waste that impact on environmental pollution the shrimp processing industry produce the waste that impact on environmental pollution. Although recent trend shows that much of these wastes are made into various value added products, considerable quantities are discharged as the processing e?uents with large volume of waters used in processing. Proper shrimp waste processing is an approach to recover biomaterials such as chitin, protein, lipids, astaxanthin, ?avor compounds, and calcium carbonate.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and one of the most important for various body functions. Calcium is a mineral found in many foods. The body needs calcium to maintain strong bones and to carry out many important functions. Lack of calcium can cause osteoporosis, osteomalacia and various complaints on bones and teeth. The touch of technology in the process of waste shrimp utilization can boost the economic value of shrimp waste to be higher.
This is the reason why Cicik Etika Saharuni, Student of the Department of Aquatic Technology, of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) created Nano Calcium from shrimp waste. This Nano Calcium can be applied to mouthwash to maintain tooth strength.
Her study was on “Aplikasi Nanokalsium Cangkang Udang Vannamei (Litopenaeus vannamei) untuk Mempertahankan Kekuatan Gigi (the Utilization of Nanocalsium of Shell Vannamei (Litopenaeus vannamei) for Maintaining Dental Strength)”. This study was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Pipih Suptijah and Dr. Agoes Mardiono Jacoeb.
"Shrimp waste is an important source of bioactive molecules and it undergoes rapid disintegration which leading to environmental pollution. Utilization of shrimp waste is important because of its great potential. One of the utilization is as nanocalsium to strengthen the teeth," said Cicik. In her study, Cicik uses nanoparticle technology to absorb calcium more into the body.
According to Cicik, the addition of to the utilization of nanocalcium as mouth waste to strengthen the teeth has never been done, so the study was deemed necessary.
Her study revealed that in vitro analysis showed the addition of nanocalcium in the mouthwash was able to coat the surface of enamel and dentin teeth. The results of the compressive strength analysis showed that the addition of nanocalcium in the mouthwash improved the strength of the tooth. The use of 1% nanocalcium concentration was effective to increase the tooth strength compared with 3% nanocalcium concentration.
Cicik expected that the results of her study will provide alternative information on the utilization of shrimp waste as a mouthwash, and the additional of nanocalcium will be affective for coating of tooth mineral to strengthen the teeth. "I also hope that the study will be applicable for the community at large", he said. (Wied)
