PHSU tests toothpaste from sargassum bioactive extracts
The Ponce Health Sciences University School of Dental Medicine has launched a research project to develop toothpaste made from sargassum seaweed extracts.
The work is led by Dr. Omar Vélez-López, who said it incorporates bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticaries properties. The goal is to turn an environmental problem into a health solution.
“Initial trials suggest that the extracts have promising effects against oral bacteria associated with caries, which opens the door to a patent application that would promote technology transfer and the development of new products,” Vélez said. “In addition to its impact on dental prevention, the project could promote new economic and sustainability opportunities on the island.”
Dental students are participating in microbiology studies, and the team is harvesting sargassum from the beaches of Guánica, where biomolecules are processed and integrated into formulations safe for human use.
Vélez said that while the accumulation of sargassum has become a serious environmental and economic problem for Puerto Rico’s coasts, the group is working to reframe it as a chance for innovation.
“In the long term, this model proposes a sustainable use of sargassum that connects biomedical research with public health, economic development and environmental protection,” he said.
Noel J. Aymat, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, said the project underscores its importance for Puerto Rico and the institution.
“We’re proud that, less than a year after the start of the Dental Medicine program, our students and faculty are already leading research of this scope,” Aymat said.
“This project reflects the school’s commitment to scientific innovation, the training of future dentists and the search for solutions that benefit both the health and economic development of Puerto Rico,” he said.
The school opened in August 2024 as the first accredited private dental school in Puerto Rico and the first to begin operations on the island in more than 50 years. It holds initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
