LL-37-biofunctionalized titanium improves soft tissue seal surrounding the dental implant from the perspective of optimizing a race to the surface.
LL-37-biofunctionalized titanium shows promise in enhancing soft tissue sealing around dental implants, but further studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness in humans.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the ll-37 corpusSummary and findings
This study evaluates the biofunctionalization of titanium with the peptide LL-37 to enhance soft tissue sealing around dental implants. The study involved in vitro experiments with human gingival fibroblasts and in vivo testing in a rat model. Findings indicate that LL-37-PD@NT promotes fibroblast activity and exhibits antibacterial properties.
Abstract
The bacterial oral environment poses a significant challenge to the long-term stability of dental implants due to vulnerability of peri-implant soft tissues to pathogenic infiltration. Therefore, the rapid formation of a dense soft tissue barrier in the transgingival mucosal area surrounding the implant is essential. In this study, we engineer a biofunctionalized titanium (Ti) material by leveraging polydopamine (PD) as an intermediate coating to immobilize the peptide LL-37 onto nanostructured Ti substrates (LL-37-PD@NT). Material characterization shows that LL-37 is successfully loaded onto Ti substrate, and although the roughness of LL-37-PD@NT increases within a certain extent, the overall biological activity is still better than that of smooth Ti, which is considered to be traditional abutment material; meanwhile, LL-37 can be released stably for more than 1 week. Furthermore, the <i>in vitro</i> experiments demonstrate dual functionality of LL-37-PD@NT: the modified Ti samples significantly promote the migration, adhesion, proliferation and ECM synthesis of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs), while exhibiting potent antibacterial efficacy against <i>Pg</i> and <i>Sm</i>. In a rat model of implantation immediately after tooth extraction, a peri-implant epithelial structure resembling the junctional epithelium of natural teeth is observed surrounding dental implant of LL-37-PD@NT at 4 weeks, and the prevention for HRP penetration exhibits the potent sealing capacity of peri-implant soft tissues. Collectively, our findings validate that the LL-37-biofunctionalized Ti can simultaneously enhance hGFs' biological functions and bacteriostatic performance, thus promoting formation and strength of soft tissue seal, holding promise as a novel option for implant abutment material.
Background
The paper addresses the biological question of how LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide, may enhance the integration of titanium dental implants with surrounding soft tissues. Previous research has indicated that biofunctionalization of implant surfaces can improve tissue response, but the specific role of LL-37 in this context was not well established. This study aims to fill that gap and provide insights into optimizing dental implant surfaces for better clinical outcomes.
Methods
Not reported in abstract.
Results
Not reported in abstract.
Interpretation
Not reported in abstract.
Key findings
- Not reported in abstract.
Limitations
- Not reported in abstract.