STTR Phase I: A novel biomimetic nanofiber coating on dental implants for gingival regeneration

这个小企业技术转移研究（STTR）第一阶段项目正在寻求开发一种新的具有成本效益的策略，用仿生纳米纤维修饰牙科种植体，以控制牙龈组织的再生。为了密封牙科植入物以防止细菌并因此保护牙槽骨免受感染引起的退化，存在促进牙龈组织迅速且有效地附着到植入物表面上的未满足的需求。该项目提出将定向仿生纳米纤维涂覆到牙科种植体的颈圈上，以使牙龈细胞沿着纤维快速粘附和受控生长。预计新牙龈结缔组织的加速形成将直接发生在仿生纳米纤维上，从而使牙科植入物与口腔适当密封。相同的排列纳米纤维可用于修饰其他植入物表面，以引导加速组织再生。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于，所提出的具有成本效益的仿生涂层将为一个常见问题提供有竞争力的解决方案，即，感染引起的植入物失效。这种类型的纳米纤维涂层牙科植入物具有很大的潜力，可以渗透到快速增长的牙科植入物市场，预计到2015年将达到81亿美元。与领先的行业合作伙伴合作，将促进这项新技术在拟议研究完成后的商业化。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project is seeking to develop a novel cost-effective strategy to modify dental implants with biomimetic nanofibers for controlled regeneration of gingival tissue. In order to seal the dental implants from bacteria and consequently protect the crestal bone from infection-induced deterioration, there is an unmet need to promote a prompt and effective attachment of gingival tissue onto the implant surface. The project proposes to coat aligned biomimetic nanofibers onto the collar of dental implants for rapid adhesion and controlled growth of gingival cells along the fibers. It is anticipated that an accelerated formation of new gingival connective tissue will take place right onto the biomimetic nanofibers, leading to a proper seal of dental implants from oral cavity. The same aligned nanofibers can be useful to modify other implant surfaces for guided accelerated tissue regeneration.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is that the proposed cost-effective biomimetic nanofiber coating will provide a competitive solution to a common problem, i.e., infection-induced implant failure. This type of nano-fiber coated dental implants has a great potential to penetrate the rapidly growing dental implant market which is projected to be $8.1 billion by 2015. Teaming up with the leading industry partners will facilitate the commercialization of this novel technology upon completion of the proposed studies.