Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RegrOssBio (Injectable biomimetic octacalcium phosphate based composites with antibacterial action for implant re-ossteointegration)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-08-01 al 2025-07-31
With the increase of the global dental implant industry, periimplantitis (PI) has become an emerging problem worldwide, affecting up to 43% of the placed implants. Periimplantitis is caused by pathogenic microorganisms that adhere to the tooth implant surface, triggering inflammation and bone destruction, eventually leading to implant loss in half of the cases. The overall aim of periimplantitis treatment is re-osseointegration of the implant with the surrounding bone, which can be achieved only in the case of complete control over infection. The existing treatment approaches are not able to provide efficient decontamination of the implant surfaces, while the effectiveness of the existing local antibiotic delivery systems is questionable. The aim of this project was to develop biomimetic injectable CaP-based pastes and composites with antibacterial and osteogenic properties for periimplantitis treatment to be further introduced to the dental market. RegrOssBio also aimed to contribute to the development of the contemporary clinical protocols for the management of this disease.
Biocompatible materials, such as octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and natural hydrogels (hyaluronic acid and functionalized gelatin) that closely resemble the composition of inorganic and organic components of the bone extracellular matrix were utilised in this project. They served as versatile platforms for local delivery of antibiotics such as Metronidazole and Amoxicilline or antimicrobial nanoparticles into the peri-implant pockets after mechanical removal of the bacterial biofilm. Overall 3 novel products with potential for future commercialization were developed throughout the Project, their physical-chemical (FTIR, XRD, SEM/STEM, surface area by BET), handling (injectability, setting time, rheological properties, etc.) and biological properties (in vitro cell tests with periodontal ligament cells, bone marrow stem cells, antibacterial tests and hemocompatibility) were evaluated, as well as drug release profiles. In the frame of the project for the first time Zn-containing mesoporous bioglass materials were synthesized using three modifications of sol-gel method and their antibacterial properties were evaluated with anaerobic oral bacteria (P. gingivalis and P. intermedia). Moreover, standard operating procedures and synthesis protocols were developed to ensure the reproducibility of the results and to contribute to educational processes of the host university. The established synthesis protocols could be potentially utilized for other biomedical applications, such as fabrication of dental and orthopaedic implant coatings (e.g. spine surgery).
The results of the RegrOssBio project have a significant impact on the development of novel dental biomaterials, nanomaterials for drug delivery and bone tissue engineering. The innovational approach of the current project lies was the creation of a novel multicomponent product for management of PI, not currently available in the dental market. Conservative treatment by RegrOssBio materials will contribute towards the reduction of treatment costs for patients and society in general in the next 5-10 years. In conservative (10%) and in ambitious (30%) scenarios of using our solution, the savings of the costs for patients and society in Europe from implant replacement may be at least 130 million US dollars. The project's results have been presented at three scientific conferences and contributed to the publication of manuscripts. The project's concepts and findings were disseminated through over ten distinct outreach and dissemination initiatives that targeted various target audiences, including researchers, students, policymakers, and schoolchildren.