Enhanced osteogenic activities of polyetheretherketone surface modified by poly(sodium p‐styrene sulfonate) via ultraviolet‐induced polymerization

Biomaterials science and surface engineering strategies for dental peri-implantitis management

Peri-implantitis is a bacterial infection that causes soft tissue inflammatory lesions and alveolar bone resorption, ultimately resulting in implant failure. Dental implants for clinical use barely have antibacterial properties, and bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on the dental implants are major causes of peri-implantitis. Treatment strategies such as mechanical debridement and antibiotic therapy have been used to remove dental plaque. However, it is particularly important to prevent the occurrence of peri-implantitis rather than treatment. Therefore, the current research spot has focused on improving the antibacterial properties of dental implants, such as the construction of specific micro-nano surface texture, the introduction of diverse functional coatings, or the application of materials with intrinsic antibacterial properties. The aforementioned antibacterial surfaces can be incorporated with bioactive molecules, metallic nanoparticles, or other functional components to further enhance the osteogenic properties and accelerate the healing process. In this review, we summarize the recent developments in biomaterial science and the modification strategies applied to dental implants to inhibit biofilm formation and facilitate bone-implant integration. Furthermore, we summarized the obstacles existing in the process of laboratory research to reach the clinic products, and propose corresponding directions for future developments and research perspectives, so that to provide insights into the rational design and construction of dental implants with the aim to balance antibacterial efficacy, biological safety, and osteogenic property.

A preliminary study on surface bioactivation of polyaryletherketone by UV-grafting with PolyNaSS: influence on osteogenic and antibacterial activities

Polyaryletherketone (PAEK) has good biocompatibility and mechanical properties and thus may have great potential in the fields of reparative medicine and bone intervention. In this study, the key representative PAEKs, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), were modified by UV grafting with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (polyNaSS) to improve their biocompatibility. Toluidine blue staining and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses showed that sulfonic acid groups were successfully introduced into PAEK, and the hydrophilicity and protein adsorption capacity of the materials were enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner. The effects of the grafted polyNaSS on osteoinduction and antibacterial properties of PAEK were analyzed in detail. We found that polyNaSS enhanced the viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium mineral deposition, and levels of expression of osteoblast-related genes and proteins of adherent human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, when Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Porphyromonas gingivalis were incubated with the materials, bacterial colony counting revealed that grafting of polyNaSS onto PAEK led to more potent inhibition of bacterial adhesion, and polyNaSS-grafted PEKK had stronger antibacterial performance than did polyNaSS-grafted PEEK fabricated under the same grafting conditions. These data show that polyNaSS-grafted PAEK, and particularly polyNaSS-grafted PEKK, may be useful as orthopedic and dental implant materials.

Crescent-shaped micromotor sorbents with sulfonic acid functionalized convex surface: The synthesis by A Janus emulsion strategy and adsorption for Li. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022;422:126870. [PMID: 34425430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126870]

Self-propelled micromotor (SPM) plays a vital role in recycling of lithium (Li⁺) from wastewater in battery industry. In this work, a crescent-shaped micromotor sorbent (CSMSs) with sulfonic group on convex surface was prepared by Janus emulsion to extract Li⁺. Using sodium p-styrene sulfonate as a functional monomer, well-designed CSMSs was prepared by UV-induced monomer interfacial polymerization, and their pit size can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of two incompatible oils (ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate and liquid paraffin). In addition, MnO₂ nanoparticles, which embedded into concave interface, generated O₂ bubbles in the presence of H₂O₂, and constant circular or line motion of CSMSs was observed. Zeta potential of CSMSs was -51.66 eV at pH = 10, and strong electrostatic attraction between sulfonate groups and Li⁺ endowed the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 31 mg g^-1 at 25 °C. Self-propelled effect further enhanced kinetic performance for Li⁺, and equilibrium time can be reduced from original 10-6.0 h, suggesting autonomous movement achieves rapid mixing and mass transportation. After three adsorption/desorption cycles, the adsorption capacity of the material remains above 90%. This simple and large-scale preparation strategy provided a synthetic method for functional and Janus SPM, as well as sorbents for Li⁺ enrichment.

Biologically Modified Polyether Ether Ketone as Dental Implant Material

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a non-toxic polymer with elastic modulus close to human bone. Compared with metal implants, PEEK has advantages such as evasion of stress shielding effect, easy processing, and similar color as teeth, among others. Therefore, it is an excellent substitute material for titanium dental orthopedic implants. However, PEEK's biological inertia limits its use as an implant. To change PEEK's biological inertia and increase its binding ability with bone tissue as an implant, researchers have explored a number of modification methods to enhance PEEK's biological activities such as cellular compatibility, osteogenic activity, and antibacterial activity. This review summarizes current biological activity modification methods for PEEK, including surface modification and blending modification, and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of each modification method. We believe that modified PEEK will be a promising dental and orthopedic implant material.