NANOTI: Development of a titanium dental implant with superior antibacterial properties

Even biocompatibility has been improved on implants, these are still promote the adherence of bacteria. Once formed on the surface, bacterial biofilm is extremely hard to eradicate. NanoTi technology reduces biofilm formation through a special nanophase topography created in the TiO2 layer of the implant surface without the use of foreign materials or antibiotics. This surface has excellent biocompatibility and promotes osteogenic differentiation of stem cells that matches the state-of-the-art.

How it began:
Bacterial colonization of titanium dental implants is one of the largest risks associated with the use of these devices. In the past 10 years the incidence of dental implant related infections increased rapidly e.g. from 2-3% to 20-30%. On the other hand, the prevailing treatment – antibiotics – has lost effectiveness due to the increasing resistance of bacteria against antimicrobial agents.

Dental implant-associated infection may result in prolonged complications or in implant loss that can cause serious psychological, physical and financial burden to the patient. The cost of treating an infected dental implant can reach EUR 10.000 while the chance of the recurrence of the infection significantly increases after implant revision.

The NanoTi Consortium addresses on of the biggest challenges in the field of advanced biomaterials: to develop an efficient strategy to reduce titanium implant-associated infections.

Objectives:
The main objective of NanoTi project is to develop a surface treatment technology that reduces the rate of complications associated with dental implant-associated infections and to improve the quality of life of patients who are subjected to tooth replacement. In order to reach this goal the NanoTi Consortium is developing a novel TiO2 nano-surface that has the innate capability to resist bacterial infections without the addition of any antibacterial compound allowing the long-term survival of in-dwelling implants.

Using proprietary electrochemical equipment and defined processes routines we can program and standardize the physical and chemical properties of TiO2 nano-surfaces on dental implants. Such a novel TiO2 nano-surface should have the capability of attenuating bacterial adherence, while exhibit extraordinary biocompatibility with the stromal cells, such as bone and epithelial cells.

The Consortium:
The RTD Partners have been carefully selected to ensure the multidisciplinary approach in the phase of the development, while the experienced SME partners ensure the successful transfer of the innovation from the bench to the bedside. The consortium consists of 8 partners active in the sectors of:
Academia & Science
Industry & Regulation
Technology Transfer & Exploitation

The partners are located in the following 5 countries:
France (Protip Medical)
Germany (TU Dresden)
Hungary (BME, Ateknea, ITM)
Lithuania (Medgroupe)

The two year initiative started in February 2014 and has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 606624.

The final project meeting took place on 27th January 2016. The meeting’s results determined, that the NANOTI project is a very successfully implemented and carried out project. The project ends on 31st January, 2016.

For more information please visit www.nanoti.eu or contact the Coordinator of the project through [e-mail].

Countries

Germany, France, Hungary, Latvia