BIKIARIS LAB

Abstract

At the moment, peri-implantitis remains an unsolved issue not only within EU but also worldwide, affecting up to 43% of the dental implants, with heavy smokers, patients with systemic health conditions (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes) and the immunosuppressed to be more vulnerable to the disease. Currently used dental implants are of low functionality and prone to bacterial colonisation and to the formation of bacterial biofilm. I-SMarD aims to provide a proactive option for solving the outstanding condition, by delivering multifunctional dental implants which; i) can detect the changes of the surrounding microenvironment and respond by releasing agents (e.g. nanoparticles, antibiotics) to prevent bacterial colonisation; ii) will have the appropriate structure to match the anatomical characteristics of dental tissues and the components to promote the formation of implant/bone and implant/soft tissue interfaces; iii) will be coated with photoactive layers which will enable the non-invasive monitoring of the healing process (i.e. health of soft tissue) after surgery. With these we aim to prevent bacterial colonisation around dental implants and reduce the required time and cost of rehabilitation period for patients benefit. The addition of photo-active layers will impact on the diagnosis of periimplantitis offering clinicians a diagnostic tool on live monitoring of tissue healing. For the fabrication, we will utilise advanced manufacturing techniques as 3D printing of titanium (Ti) and Ti alloy powders and Pulsed Laser Deposition for coating the surface of the implants. This will allow the delivery of complex, functional but at the same time low cost, personalised implants. Aim of our multidisciplinary team is not only the development of an advanced implant but also the delivery of a promising, low cost product that will benefit the manufacturing and nanotechnology sector.

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Role of AUTH

AUTH will be involved in numerous WPs and will lead 2 of them. The School of Dentistry will be responsible for the synthesis of antibacterial and bioactive nanoparticles, the in vitro biological evaluation of all the produced materials and will coordinate the in vivo experiments performed in the School of Veterinary Medicine. The School of Dentistry will participate in the organizing workshops with professional consultants in surgery and prosthodontics that will provide practical recommendations and guidelines driven from their large clinical expertise that could be implemented to implant designs for best clinical outcomes. The School of Chemistry (BikiarisLab), will synthesize the pH sensitive polymeric coatings of the implants and tailor their function (responsiveness, drug loading and release, antibacterial potential) according to the objectives of the project. The School of Veterinary Medicine will be responsible for the hosting of animals, the surgical procedures in vivo (teeth extractions, implant placement, animals sedation and sacrifice where needed, histology and histomorphometry), and will take care of animals’ health status according to EU guidelines and the directive 2010/63/EU of the European parliament and of the council.

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The coordinator from the side of AUTH is Associate Professor Eleana Kontonasaki of the Department of Dentistry. 

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