Nature-inspired sensitive toothpaste comes to the high street

A new sensitive toothpaste, inspired by a naturally-occurring bone-grafting substance, could improve daily life for millions living with sensitive teeth, thanks to a commercialisation journey supported by UCL Ventures.

Created by Professor Marc-Olivier Coppens and Dr. Niall Kent at UCL’s Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering (CNIE) the product is set to launch in high street pharmacies from today (8 June), marking a rare breakthrough in a category that has seen little meaningful innovation since the 1990s.

Tooth sensitivity affects around half the UK population, causing sharp pain and discomfort that can make it difficult to enjoy everyday foods and drinks. The science behind OZEN offers a different approach: rather than simply masking the problem, it is designed to help rebuild the tooth surface, addressing the underlying cause of sensitivity.

OZEN combines a technology inspired by a naturally-derived substance, originally developed for bone grafting, with AeroGraft, which is a novel aerogel material designed to rapidly rebuild tooth surfaces with material indistinguishable from bone.  

Unlike most sensitive toothpastes — which work by either numbing the nerve or slowly blocking tiny channels inside the tooth over days or weeks — AeroGraft works within minutes. It physically seals exposed tubules, while releasing calcium and phosphate ions to form a protective mineral layer on the tooth surface.

UCL Ventures’ pivotal role 

UCL Ventures worked closely with the academic team to protect the intellectual property, explore commercial routes and secure the right partner to take the technology to market. The technology was licensed to Matrix, the consumer health company behind OZEN, which has developed and launched the product line.

The launch is demonstrative of UCL Ventures’ role in helping UCL innovations cross the final mile from academic discovery to real-world impact. That work helped turn promising research into a consumer product now reaching the high street with a new toothpaste and ‘on the go’ oral gel range under the OZEN brand.

Dr. Anne Lane, CEO of UCL Ventures, said: “For over 30 years, we’ve helped UCL’s research make the transition from the university into real-world commercial ventures across every academic discipline – from gene therapies for cancers and rare diseases to AI algorithms. We’re proud to have played a pivotal role in helping the technology behind OZEN on its journey from the lab to the pharmacy shelf, potentially helping millions of people with sensitive teeth.”

Inspired by nature 

The underlying technology was developed by researchers at UCL, as part of wider work into nature inspired engineering for sustainable manufacturing and health. The core ingredient – inspired by a natural substance used to help graft bones together – supports mineral regeneration. During development, the UCL team recognised that the same mechanism could be applied to dentistry, where sensitivity is caused by exposed microscopic channels in the tooth surface.  

Traditional sensitive toothpastes focus on blocking these channels, an approach that has changed little in decades. The UCL technology offers a different path, helping to rebuild the tooth surface itself.

Professor Marc‑Olivier Coppens, Ramsay Memorial Professor of Chemical Engineering at UCL, who led the research project, said: “This work grew out of fundamental research into hierarchically structured catalysts, as well as nature‑inspired materials and how they support mineral regeneration in the body. What has been particularly exciting is seeing the science translated from lab research into a consumer product that can unlock real‑world benefits for people.”

Commercial collaboration 

Harry Zalk, CEO said: “OZEN is powered by world leading research developed at UCL. Working closely with UCL Ventures allowed us to take a rigorous piece of academic science and translate it into a consumer product that genuinely performs differently. This collaboration has been central to getting OZEN from research to retail.”

OZEN offers a strong example of how UCL research, backed by UCL Ventures’ commercial expertise, can move beyond the lab and tackle everyday health challenges at scale.

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