Tantalum Sputtering Target for Titanium Dental Implant Surface Coating

Titanium (Ti) dental implants have an excellent biocompatibility and load-bearing mechanical properties and thus occupy the vast majority of commercial implant markets. However, due to the impaired host defense and antibacterial properties of titanium, even after thorough disinfection, it is susceptible to bacterial infection, which will impair osseointegration and even cause the implant to fall off. Therefore, the practical application of Ti implants requires improved antimicrobial activity.

The tantalum sputtering target is considered a promising metal material for biomedical implants or coatings for dental, orthopedic and arthroplasty because of its superior corrosion resistance, radiopacity, and biology compatibility, osteogenic and antibacterial activity. A Ta-based coating comprising TaO and TaN has an antibacterial effect on oral pathogens in artificial saliva. Magnetron sputtering implants a tantalum sputter target into the Ti implant to form a Ta2O5 coating with a micro/nano layered structure on Ti, which greatly enhances the in vitro osteogenic activity of the Ti implant. 

However, although ruthenium (Ta)-based coatings have proven to have good antibacterial activity, their basic mechanisms and in vivo biological properties have not been known, which is critical for the clinical application of Ta-coated biomaterials as dental implants.

BackGrounds:

Although tantalum (Ta)-based coatings have been proven to have good antibacterial activity, the underlying mechanism and in vivo biological performance remain unclear, which are essential for the clinical application of Ta-coated biomaterials as dental implants.

Purpose: 

The main objective of this study is to investigate the antibacterial activity of Ta-modified titanium (Ti) implants against peri-implantitis-related microbes and the potential molecular mechanisms.

Methods: 

Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis were selected to evaluate the antibacterial activity and potential antibacterial mechanism of Ta modification. The in vivo biocompatibility of Ta-modified implants was also evaluated.

Results: 

The results showed that Ta-modified surface performed excellent antimicrobial activity against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Micro galvanic might be formed between the incorporated Ta and the Ti base, which could consume the protons and result in decreased ATP synthesis and increased ROS generation. The gene expression of bacterial virulence factors associated with cellular attachment, invasion and viability as the target of ROS was downregulated. Importantly, in vivo biological studies showed that Ta modification significantly promoted the osseointegration of implants by stimulating the expression of bone-forming proteins.

Conclusion: 

This study may provide some insights into clinical applications of Ta-coated Ti implants, especially in possibly infected situations.

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