IADR Abstract Archives
Bioactive Tetracycline-Containing Fibers as a Titanium Dental Implant Surface Modifier
Objectives: Although titanium (Ti) implants are used worldwide to replace missing teeth, the risk of infection and early implant loss still holds a significant clinical concern. The incorporation of antimicrobials into polymer fibers has proven to be an effective strategy for localized drug delivery. The objectives of this work were two-fold: (1) to synthesize and characterize tetracycline (TCH)-containing fibers through a range of materials and biological assays, and (2) to investigate pre-osteoblasts proliferation on TCH-containing fibers-modified Ti.
Methods: Poly(DL-lactide)-PLA, poly(ε-caprolactone)-PCL, and gelatin-GEL were dissolved in hexafluoro-2-propanol. TCH was then added at distinct concentrations (5, 10 and 25 wt.%, relative to the total polymer blend weight), and spun into fibers. The following fibers were obtained: pure PLA:PCL/GEL (no drug, control), PLA:PCL/GEL+5%TCH, PLA:PCL/GEL+10%TCH, and PLA:PCL/GEL+25%TCH. Fiber morphology/SEM, chemical structure/FTIR and mechanical properties (n=10/group) were evaluated. Antibacterial activity was assessed (n=4/group) against F. nucleatum, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Cytotoxicity (ISO10993-5) was evaluated using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts (n=4/group). Lastly, fibers were spun over cpTi discs (ϕ=10mm, n=4/group) to study cell proliferation. Data was analyzed at the 5% significance level.
Results: Fiber diameter increased significantly (p<0.05) for the 25wt.%TCH group (323.7±69nm). FTIR confirmed the presence of the major peaks related to the polymers and TCH addition. TCH incorporation (at 10 and 25wt.%) resulted in higher strength and modulus than 5%TCH. However, it led to a significant decrease in elongation compared to the pure fibers and 5%TCH (Table). TCH-containing fibers promoted significant antimicrobial activity against all bacteria and were considered not toxic to pre-osteoblast cells. After 5 days a significant (p<0.05) increase in cell proliferation was seen for Ti-discs-modified with TCH-fibers at 10 and 25wt.% when compared to unmodified (bare) Ti discs.
Conclusions: Taken together, the reported data support the conclusion that tetracycline-containing electrospun fibers hold great clinical potential as a surface modifier to provide bioactive properties to titanium dental implants.
Methods: Poly(DL-lactide)-PLA, poly(ε-caprolactone)-PCL, and gelatin-GEL were dissolved in hexafluoro-2-propanol. TCH was then added at distinct concentrations (5, 10 and 25 wt.%, relative to the total polymer blend weight), and spun into fibers. The following fibers were obtained: pure PLA:PCL/GEL (no drug, control), PLA:PCL/GEL+5%TCH, PLA:PCL/GEL+10%TCH, and PLA:PCL/GEL+25%TCH. Fiber morphology/SEM, chemical structure/FTIR and mechanical properties (n=10/group) were evaluated. Antibacterial activity was assessed (n=4/group) against F. nucleatum, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Cytotoxicity (ISO10993-5) was evaluated using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts (n=4/group). Lastly, fibers were spun over cpTi discs (ϕ=10mm, n=4/group) to study cell proliferation. Data was analyzed at the 5% significance level.
Results: Fiber diameter increased significantly (p<0.05) for the 25wt.%TCH group (323.7±69nm). FTIR confirmed the presence of the major peaks related to the polymers and TCH addition. TCH incorporation (at 10 and 25wt.%) resulted in higher strength and modulus than 5%TCH. However, it led to a significant decrease in elongation compared to the pure fibers and 5%TCH (Table). TCH-containing fibers promoted significant antimicrobial activity against all bacteria and were considered not toxic to pre-osteoblast cells. After 5 days a significant (p<0.05) increase in cell proliferation was seen for Ti-discs-modified with TCH-fibers at 10 and 25wt.% when compared to unmodified (bare) Ti discs.
Conclusions: Taken together, the reported data support the conclusion that tetracycline-containing electrospun fibers hold great clinical potential as a surface modifier to provide bioactive properties to titanium dental implants.