Biocompatible Component Nanoparticle Surface Osseointegration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental implants face challenges in achieving strong osseointegration due to issues with surface roughness and chemical compatibility, leading to potential failure from brittle coatings and unpredictable tissue responses.

Innovation Solution

A biocompatible component with a surface comprising titanium dioxide nanoparticles of less than 25 nm in size, applied through electrospray-scanning mobility particle sizer technology, which induces early hydroxyapatite nucleation and enhances tissue regeneration by creating a porous, electrochemically active surface for improved cell attachment and bone formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a layer of ceramic material such as hydroxyapatite is applied on the implant surface to improve bonding to bone, then the chemical compatibility and bone attachment are improved, but the coating becomes brittle and may flake or break off due to stronger bond between bone and coating than between coating and implant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone attachment strengthVSAvoidcoating integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the separate hydroxyapatite coating layer and instead incorporates calcium phosphate directly into the titanium alloy substrate, creating a biocompatible metal alloy that inherently provides both structural strength and bone attachment capability without a brittle surface coating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system by incorporating calcium phosphate particles within the titanium alloy matrix, combining the mechanical strength of titanium with the bone-binding properties of calcium phosphate to achieve both structural integrity and biological compatibility in a single monolithic structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the surface roughness is increased to provide larger contact and attachment area between implant and bone tissue, then the mechanical retention is improved, but the osseointegration may be compromised due to unpredictable tissue response to rough surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical retentionVSAvoidosseointegration predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different surface characteristics at different scales: macroscopic smoothness for predictable tissue response and microscopic roughness features for increased surface area and mechanical retention, achieving both goals simultaneously through multi-scale surface engineering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies surface parameters by controlling the size, distribution, and morphology of calcium phosphate particles within the alloy matrix, creating optimal surface characteristics that enhance bone attachment while maintaining predictable osseointegration responses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If protein coatings are applied to the implant surface to enhance biocompatibility, then the tissue attachment is improved, but specific sterilization and storage conditions are required to maintain biological activity and host tissue response may be unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue attachmentVSAvoidsterilization and storage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fragile protein coatings with a robust inorganic calcium phosphate-based alloy surface that is stable under standard sterilization conditions and does not require special handling, effectively using a more durable but simpler material to achieve the same biological function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the implant surface by incorporating calcium phosphate, which provides inherent osteoconductivity and bone attachment capabilities without the instability and sensitivity issues associated with organic protein coatings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The nanoparticle-coated surface promotes early apatite nucleation and osseointegration, offering a stronger and more stable bond between the implant and bone tissue, reducing the risk of coating failure and enhancing long-term implant integration.

Implementation Method 1

induces early hydroxyapatite nucleation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNucleation: Nucleation

Implementation Method 2

creating a porous, electrochemically active surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical reaction:

Implementation Method 3

applied through electrospray-scanning mobility particle sizer technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic deposition: Electrostatic Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP2707043B1Biocompatible component

Publication Date: 2020.06.24 DENTSPLY IH AB

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Figure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention provides a biocompatible component having a surface intended for contact with living tissue, wherein the surface comprises particles of metal oxide, said particleshaving an average particle size of less than 100 nm. A method for the production of such biocompatible component is also provided. It was found that the bioactivity of the biocompatible component was increased compare to a reference in that it induced earlier apatite nucleation in vitro. It is believed that by the biocompatible component may induce early hydroxyapatite nucleation in vivo and thus promote osseointegration of an implant.