Purpose: To create and investigate artificial mucin-based saliva substitutes with properties similar to natural saliva.
Materials and methods: Natural saliva and six saliva preparations were tested. Saliva substitutes were made using phosphate buffered saline (PBS) prepared in deionised water or plasma-treated water (PBSPT) with addition of porcine gastric mucin and guar gum or poloxamer 407. A wide range of properties were characterised: physicochemical (changes of pH, conductivity and surface tension over time: 1, 24, 96, 168 h after mixing ingredients), rheological (viscosity and viscoelasticity), tribological (coefficient of friction for titanium alloy Ti-6Al-7Nb kinematic couple) and corrosive (open circuit potential, corrosion potential, polarisation resistance).
Results: Saliva preparations based only on mucin had pH, viscosity, coefficient of friction and corrosion parameters similar to those of natural saliva. Guar gum increased the values of viscosity, viscoelasticity and the coefficient of friction. Similar results were obtained for poloxamer 407, whereas it decreased the surface tension of tested preparations. Plasma-treated PBS enhanced the corrosion resistance of saliva substitutes with guar gum and poloxamer 407.
Conclusion: Among the tested compositions, saliva substitutes based only on mucin were found to have parameters similar to human whole saliva. Mucin saliva preparations may have wide applicability for patients with e.g. xerostomia or patients using a metal prosthesis.