Novel lubricating microgel-reinforced hydrogel as a saliva substitute

Xerostomia (dry mouth condition resulting from a reduction/absence of saliva) affects at least 1 in 10 adults. Inspired by human saliva, we have designed and filed a patent application for a brand-new, super-lubricious colloidal formulation, composed of a proteinaceous microgel-reinforced biopolymeric hydrogel, which offers substantially enhanced and sustained lubrication - a key benefit making it unique over saliva substitutes currently available on the market for dry mouth sufferers. Preliminary structural studies suggest that the lubricant formulation is composed of spherical microgel particles, which are surrounded by a shell of hydrogel nanofibrils adsorbed on their surface. Now, we would like to use SANS to gain further insight into the molecular structure (size and shape) of our colloidal system, whose knowledge is fundamental to optimising its lubrication performance.