Vertex-Discoveries

UV strategies impacting oral health

Our progress

Publications and patents

Our concepts have been presented in regional, national, and international meetings and conferences; published in peer-reviewed journals; and protected under American and European patents

Publications

  • Morio, K. A. (2016). Development of a new multi-species, in vitro model for root canal disinfection. University of Iowa, College of Dentistry, 2016. https://iro.uiowa.edu/esploro/outputs/graduate/Development-of-a-new-multi-species-in/9983777035902771?institution=01IOWA_INST#file-0
  • Morio, K. A., Marshall, T. A., Qian, F., and Morgan, T. A.  Comparing diet, oral hygiene and caries status of adult methamphetamine users and nonusers.  J. Am. Dent. Assoc.; 139(2):171-176, 2008.
  • Morio, K., Thayer, E. L., Bates, A. M., and Brogden, K. A. 255 nm LED kills Enterococcus faecalis and induces the production of cellular biomarkers in HEPM cells and gingival fibroblasts. J. Endod. 45(6):774-783, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2019.02.016.
  • Morio, K. A., Sternowski, R. H., and Brogden, K. A. Dataset of endodontic microorganisms killed at 265 and 280 nm wavelengths by ultraviolet C light emitting diodes. Mendeley Data, October 18, 2021, doi: 10.17632/ck9ckzpfr7.1.
  • Morio, K. A., Sternowski, R. H., and Brogden, K. A. Dataset of endodontic microorganisms killed at 265 nm wavelength by an ultraviolet C light emitting diode in root canals of extracted, instrumented teeth. Data Brief 2022, 40, 107750, doi:10.1016/j.dib.2021.107750.
  • Morio, K. A., Sternowski, R. H., and Brogden, K. A. Using ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LED) to create sterile root canals and to treat endodontic infections. Curr. Opin. Biomed. Eng. 2022, 23, 100397, doi:10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100397.
  • Morio, K. A., Sternowski, R. H., Zeng, E., and Brogden, K.A. Antimicrobial peptides and biomarkers induced by ultraviolet irradiation have the potential to reduce endodontic inflammation and facilitate tissue healing. Pharmaceutics 2022, 14, 1979, doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14091979. 
  • Morio, K. A., Sternowski, R. H., and Brogden, K. A. Induction of endogenous antimicrobial peptides to prevent or treat oral infection and inflammation. Antibiotics [Basel] 2023, 9, 12(2):361, doi:10.3390/antibiotics12020361.

Presentations

  • Bell, K., Marshall, T. A., Morgan, T. A., and Qian, F. Meal patterns and oral health behaviors of methamphetamine users. 2007 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session, New Orleans, LA. March 23, 2007.
  • Bell, K., Marshall, T. A., Morgan, T. A., and Qian, F. Meal patterns and oral health behaviors of methamphetamine users. 2007 Midwest Regional Student Research Conference, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. April 14, 2007.
  • Morio, K. A., Drake, D., Teixeira, F. B., Williamson, A. E., Villhauser, A., Lynch, D., and Goree, J. Development of a new multi-species biofilm model for root canal disinfection laboratory testing. Presented at the Iowa chapter of the AADR, , sity of Iowa College of Dentistry Research Day, February 7, 2016.
  • Morio, K., Drake, D., Villhauser, A., Lynch, D., Goree, J., and Teixeira, F. Novel multi-species root canal infection model in extracted human teeth. AADR/CADR Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA. March 17, 2016.
  • Thayer, E. L., Morio, K., and Brogden, K. A. 255 nm light emitting diode (LED) in combination with Bleach (NaClO) is more effective in killing E. faecalis in root canal therapies. Presented at the 2018 Fall Undergraduate Research Festival (FURF), University of Iowa, University Capitol Centre, November 14, 2018.
  • Thayer, E. L., Brogden, K. A., and Morio, K. 255 nm light emitting diode (LED) in combination with Bleach (NaClO) is more effective in killing E. faecalis in root canal therapies. Presented at the Iowa chapter of the AADR, University of Iowa College of Dentistry Research Day, February 12, 2019.
  • Thayer, E. L., Morio, K., and Brogden, K. A. A model to assess microbial killing in tooth root canals. Presented at the 2019 Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF), University of Iowa, University Capitol Centre, April 17, 2019.
  • Thayer, E. L., Morio, K., and Brogden, K. A. A model to assess microbial killing in tooth root canals. Presented at the Iowa chapter of the AADR, University of Iowa College of Dentistry Research Day, February 7, 2020.
  • Thayer, E. K., Harless, J., Morio, K., Sternowski, R. H., and Brogden, K. A. UVC light emitting diode (LED) kills microorganisms in an instrumented model of root canals. IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, Washington, DC – March 18-21, 2020.
  • Thayer, E., Harless, J., Morio, K., Sternowski, R., and Brogden, K. UVC LED kills microorganisms in an instrumented root canal model. 2022 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting, Hybrid, Atlanta, GA. March 23, 2022.

Patents

  • Our American patent application was accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (docket no. 3012707-1003; application no. 17/277,450; application date March 18, 2021; granted date August 13, 2024; and patent no. 12,059,576).
  • Our European patent application was accepted by the European Patent Convention (Docket no. 3012707-1004; application no. 19874953.3; application date October 25, 2019; granted date March 26, 2025; and patent no. 1122/3870095).