Erik Unosson

Reactive combinatorial synthesis and characterization of a gradient Ag-Ti oxide thin film with antibacterial properties

The growing demand for orthopedic and dental implants has spurred researchers to develop multifunctional coatings, combining tissue integration with antibacterial features. A possible strategy to endow titanium (Ti) with antibacterial properties is by incorporating silver (Ag), but designing a structure with adequate Ag(+) release while maintaining biocompatibility has been shown difficult. To further explore the composition-structure-property relationships between Ag and Ti, and its effects against bacteria, this study utilized a combinatorial approach to manufacture and test a single sample containing a binary Ag-Ti oxide gradient. The sample, sputter-deposited in a reactive (O2) environment using a custom-built combinatorial physical vapor deposition system, was shown to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus with viability reductions ranging from 17 to above 99%, depending on the amount of Ag(+) released from its different parts. The Ag content along the gradient ranged from 35 to 62 wt.%, but it was found that structural properties such as varied porosity and degree of crystallinity, rather than the amount of incorporated Ag, governed the Ag(+) release and resulting antibacterial activity. The coating also demonstrated in vitro apatite-forming abilities, where structural variety along the sample was shown to alter the hydrophilic behavior, with the degree of hydroxyapatite deposition varying accordingly. By means of combinatorial synthesis, a single gradient sample was able to display intricate compositional and structural features affecting its biological response, which would otherwise require a series of coatings. The current findings suggest that future implant coatings incorporating Ag as an antibacterial agent could be structurally enhanced to better suit clinical requirements.

Synergetic inactivation of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus mutans in a TiO2/H2O2/UV system

TiO2 photocatalysis can be used to kill surface adherent bacteria on biomaterials, and is particularly interesting for use with percutaneous implants and devices. Its efficiency and safety, however, depend on the activation energy required. This in vitro study investigates synergetic effects against the clinically relevant strains S. epidermidis and S. mutans when combining photocatalytic surfaces with H2O2. After 20 min exposure to 0.1 wt% H2O2 and UV light on TiO2 surfaces, viabilities of S. epidermidis and S. mutans were reduced by 99.7% and 98.9%, respectively. Without H2O2 the corresponding viability reduction was 86% for S. epidermidis and 65% for S. mutans. This study indicates that low concentrations of H2O2 can enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic TiO2 surfaces, which could potentially improve current techniques used for decontamination and debridement of TiO2 coated biomedical implants and devices.

Antibacterial Properties of Dental Luting Agents: Potential to Hinder the Development of Secondary Caries

A modified direct contact test was used to evaluate the antibacterial properties of four commercially available dental luting agents (RelyX Unicem, Ketac Cem, Ceramir Crown & Bridge and Harvard Cement) and two reference materials (glass-ionomer cement and calcium aluminate cement) compared to a negative-control material (PMMA). Streptococcus mutans bacteria were placed in direct contact with specimens that had been aged for 10 min, 1 day, and 7 days, in order to test the antibacterial properties of the materials. A metabolic assay containing resazurin was used to quantify the amount of viable bacteria remaining after the direct contact tests. The effects of pH and fluoride on bacteria proliferation were also evaluated. Strongest antibacterial properties were found for calcium aluminate cement, followed by Ceramir Crown & Bridge and RelyX Unicem. Ketac Cem, Harvard Cement, and the reference glass-ionomer cement showed bacteria content either higher than or not significantly different from the PMMA control in all instances. pH levels below 6.3 and above 9.0 were found to have negative effects on bacterial proliferation. No correlation between either acidic materials or fluoride release and antibacterial properties could be seen; rather, basic materials showed stronger antibacterial properties.

Direct and interactive effects of three variables on properties of PMMA bone cement for vertebral body augmentation

PMMA bone cements are widely used for vertebral body augmentation procedures vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty. Although there are studies in the literature on the direct effects of relevant variables on the properties of these cements, there are none on the interactive effects. In the present work, such a study was performed on both types of effects, with the variables being the concentration of initiator (benzoyl peroxide), the concentration of crosslinker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate), and the liquid-to-powder ratio used in preparing the cement; and the properties being the compressive strength, the compressive modulus, the doughing time, the setting time, and the maximum polymerization temperature. Two additional properties obtained from the viscosity-versus-time curves, namely the time at the onset of curing, and the critical curing rate were also studied. Significant interactive effects between the amount of crosslinker and the amount of radical initiator were found to affect the doughing time and the critical curing rate. These effects were explained in terms of the reaction kinetics. It was concluded that interactive effects may exist and should be taken into account when designing bone cement formulations.

Hydroxyapatite Formation on a Novel Dental Cement in Human Saliva

Dental materials have to meet high standards regarding mechanical strength and handling properties. There is however only a limited amount of research that has been devoted to natural formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) in contact with the materials. The objective of the current investigation was to study the surface reactions occurring in human salvia on a novel dental cement. Ceramir Crown & Bridge, a bioceramic luting agent intended for permanent cementation of conventional oral prosthetics, was evaluated by immersing discs made from the cement in human saliva and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for seven days, after which they were dried and analyzed. The analytical methods used in order to verify HA formation on the surface were grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All results showed that HA was formed on the surfaces of samples stored in saliva as well as on samples stored in PBS. The possibility of a dental luting cement to promote natural formation of HA at the tooth interface increases the stability and durability of the system and could help prevent secondary caries.

Organic degradation potential of a TiO2/H2O2/UV–vis system for dental applications

OBJECTIVES The combination of TiO2 and H2O2 under light activation constitutes a promising method for disinfection of dental prosthetics and implants, due to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this work was to investigate the organic degradation ability of TiO2 particles in combination with H2O2 and under light activation utilizing the organic dye rhodamine B (RhB). METHODS Five different types of TiO2 particles, consisting of anatase, rutile, or a mixture of these crystalline phases, were combined with H2O2 and RhB, and subsequently exposed to UV (365nm) or visible (405nm) light at an irradiance of 2.1mW/cm2. RESULTS It was found that rutile in combination with low concentrations of H2O2 (1.0-3.5mM) resulted in a degradation of RhB of 96% and 77% after 10min exposure to 365nm and 405nm light, respectively, which was the highest degradation of all test groups. Control measurements performed without light irradiation or irradiation at 470nm, or without TiO2 particles resulted in little or no degradation of RhB. CONCLUSIONS Low H2O2 concentrations (1.0mM-3.5mM) and visible light (405nm) used in combination with rutile TiO2 particles showed the highest RhB degradation capacity. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE A combination of TiO2 particles and H2O2 exposed to low energy UV or high energy visible light has an organic degradation capability that could be utilized in applications to kill or inactivate bacteria on medical devices such as dental implants for treatment against, e.g., peri-implantitis.