Biocompatible liquid-infused titanium minimizes oral biofilm adhesion in flow chamber and 3D implant-tissue-biofilm in vitro models

  • Biomedical implants are susceptible to bacterial colonization, which can lead to challenging implant-associated infections. In particular, dental implant abutments – which are continuously exposed to bacteria within the oral cavity – stand to greatly benefit from strategies which inhibit the development of bacterial biofilms. Liquid-infused titanium surfaces have demonstrated excellent biofilm repellency, but to date have not been analyzed with substances suitable for medical device approval in terms of biocompatibility under conditions mimicking the environment of dental implant abutments. In this study, different medical-grade lubricants coated onto laser-structured titanium were screened for stability and water-repellency – with the results suggesting that unmodified structured titanium coated with silicone oil was the most promising combination of materials. When analyzing biofilm formation, the coated surfaces showed a statistically significant reduction in oral commensalBiomedical implants are susceptible to bacterial colonization, which can lead to challenging implant-associated infections. In particular, dental implant abutments – which are continuously exposed to bacteria within the oral cavity – stand to greatly benefit from strategies which inhibit the development of bacterial biofilms. Liquid-infused titanium surfaces have demonstrated excellent biofilm repellency, but to date have not been analyzed with substances suitable for medical device approval in terms of biocompatibility under conditions mimicking the environment of dental implant abutments. In this study, different medical-grade lubricants coated onto laser-structured titanium were screened for stability and water-repellency – with the results suggesting that unmodified structured titanium coated with silicone oil was the most promising combination of materials. When analyzing biofilm formation, the coated surfaces showed a statistically significant reduction in oral commensal Streptococcus oralis biofilms grown under static conditions as well as oral multispecies biofilms grown under salivation-resembling flow conditions. This biofilm-reducing effect was also observed when the coated surface interfaced with a 3D implant-tissue-oral-bacterial-biofilm (INTERbACT) in vitro model, which allows for the direct interaction of human tissue and oral multispecies biofilm at the implant interface. Importantly, this biofilm reduction was not due to toxicity of the coated surfaces, but is most likely attributable to inhibition of bacterial attachment. Additionally, the surfaces were not cytotoxic, without altering adjacent soft tissue or causing elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. These findings highlight the promise of biocompatible liquid-infused titanium surfaces as biofilm-repellent implant abutment modifications andshow moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Katharina Doll-Nikutta, Carina Mikolai, Nils Heine, Kestutis Kurselis, Elena Fadeeva, Nicolas Debener, Beate Legutko, Charlotte Kreuzkamp, Vannila Prasanthan, Janina BahnemannORCiDGND, Boris N. Chichkov, Meike Stiesch
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1242515
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/124251
ISSN:2452-199XOPAC
Parent Title (English):Bioactive Materials
Publisher:Elsevier BV
Place of publication:Amsterdam
Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2025
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2025/08/06
Volume:53
First Page:706
Last Page:717
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.07.048
Institutes:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät
Fakultätsübergreifende Institute und Einrichtungen
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik / Lehrstuhl für Technische Biologie
Fakultätsübergreifende Institute und Einrichtungen / Zentrum für Advanced Analytics and Predictive Sciences (CAAPS)
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 530 Physik
Licence (German):CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0: Creative Commons: Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell - Keine Bearbeitung (mit Print on Demand)