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Video on the prize: https://vimeo.com/1209411565?fl=pl&fe=cm
The following text has been machine translated from the German with no human editing.
The award recognised their work, published in 2025, on the development of polymer films that adhere to the oral mucosa and release probiotic bacteria there (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114886). For this novel polymer film, Marc Schneider’s research team used bacteria such as Lactobacillus reuteri, which specifically support dental health. In doing so, they produced films containing both encapsulated and non-encapsulated probiotic bacteria.
The study then investigated how the probiotic polymer films affect the colonisation of tooth surfaces by potentially pathogenic bacteria. To this end, the researchers used a test involving tooth enamel samples, which had been developed by the Homburg research group led by Professor Matthias Hannig, Head of the Dental Clinic at the University Hospital. In the test, the probiotic adhesive films were applied to enamel samples and left in the oral cavity of test subjects overnight. A comparative analysis was then carried out to determine the extent to which the enamel samples were colonised by ‘harmful’ bacteria: “The differences in the surface colonisation of enamel samples with probiotic strips compared to adhesive strips without probiotic bacteria were significant. The beneficial bacteria introduced colonise the mouth whilst simultaneously inhibiting the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria,” explains Professor Marc Schneider.
The publication combines pharmaceutical techniques with aspects of materials science and demonstrates the potential of probiotics to specifically influence the oral microbiome. This could contribute to the prevention and treatment of conditions such as periodontitis in the future.
The work arose from a collaboration with the research groups led by Professor Karen Lienkamp (Polymer Materials) and Professor Christian Motz (Experimental Methodology in Materials Science), as well as with Professor Dr Matthias Hannig, Head of the Department of Conservative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry.
Information about the award with a link to the film: https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/schneider/aktuelles.html
Award-winning publication: “Probiotics-embedded polymer films for oral health: Development, characterisation, and therapeutic potential” (Eckermann et al. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2025, 255: 114886)
The PHOENIX Pharmacy Science Prize, awarded by the pharmaceutical wholesaler Phoenix-Group, is presented annually in the four pharmaceutical disciplines of pharmacology and clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical biology, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmaceutical technology. It recognises outstanding research achievements that provide new impetus for drug therapy and healthcare.
https://www.phoenixgroup.eu/de/wissenschaftspreis
For further information, please contact:
Prof. Dr Marc Schneider
Biopharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology
Saarland University
Email: marc.schneider@uni-saarland.de or karin.gross@uni-saarland.de
Tel.: +49 (0)681 302-2039 (Secretariat)
https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/schneider/
