Indian-American chemist wins award
INDIAN-AMERICAN chemist Sumita Mitra has won the European Inventor Award 2021. Mitra was the first to successfully integrate nanotechnology into dental materials to produce stronger and more aesthetically pleasing fillings, which are now used by dentists around the world.
While working in the oral care division of US multinational 3M in the late 1990s, Mitra became aware of the limitations of existing materials used in dental fillings, which were either too weak to be used on biting surfaces, or quickly lost their polish.
She had decided to explore how the new developments in nanotechnology could be applied to dentistry. She began working on nanotechnology-based solutions for new dental material, driven by a desire to use her expertise in polymer chemistry and materials science to develop inventions that solve real-life problems.
Mitra and her team developed a technique for creating linked clusters of nanoparticles, which they called ‘nanoclusters’. These clusters combine single nanoparticles of varying diameters, resulting in strong, durable and shiny material.
By adding tiny amounts of pigment, and altering the chemical composition of the nanoparticles, the team was also able to create a range of different shades that can be matched to individual teeth and layered to create a more natural finish, a statement has said.
Mitra said: ‘The use of nanotechnology allowed me to make a new material. It restores peoples smiles and improves the quality of their lives’.
António Campinos, president, European Patent Office, said: ‘Mitra took an entirely new path in her field and demonstrated how technological innovation, protected by patents, can transform a sector, and in this case bring benefits to millions of dental patients.
‘Her invention remains commercially successful nearly 20 years after its launch – another reason why she is an inspiration to the next generation of scientists.’