Purification and analysis of a 5kDa component of enamel matrix derivative.

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were used to analyse a 5kDa component purified from enamel matrix derivative (EMD), the active ingredient in Emdogain, a commercial product for periodontal tissue regeneration. After initial purification by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) on a 100 cm x 5 cm column (Bio-Gel P-30 Fine, 280 nm), collected fractions were analysed by size-exclusion HPLC (SE HPLC; TSK-Gel Super SW2000, 220 nm). The fractions containing only the 5kDa component were analysed by reversed-phase high-pressure chromatography (RP HPLC; YMC-Pack ODS-A, 200 nm), revealing four peaks of the 5kDa component.

Presence of an enamel matrix protein derivative on human teeth following periodontal surgery.

An enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD) has been successfully employed to restore fully functional periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone in patients with severe attachment loss. When applied to denuded root surfaces, EMD is believed to assemble into a matrix that locally stimulates regenerative responses in the surrounding tissues. Since wound healing and induction of regeneration are biological processes typically running from weeks to months after treatment, the EMD matrix must be present on the root surface over a biologically significant time period to be effective.