Ti3C2Tx MXene Nanosheet Film for the Controlled Release of a Photoresponsive Antibiotic in Dental Implants

• Grant number: 24/05017-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Valentim Adelino Ricardo Barão
• Grantee: João Vicente Calazans Neto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Due to the increasing incidence and severity of peri-implant diseases, there is a growing demand for smart coatings capable of combating bacterial colonization on dental implants. An innovative approach would be the combination of two-dimensional antibacterial films such as MXene, known for its excellent structural properties, combined with photosensitive antibiotics, which could potentially maximize antimicrobial efficacy towards a broad spectrum. However, this strategy has not yet been tested. In addition, the adhesion of MXene to metallic substrates still represents a challenge that must be overcome. Therefore, this study aims to develop an adherent, photodynamic and antimicrobial film of Ti3C2-based MXene nanosheets on the titanium surface to control peri-implant infections. This film will be applied by electrodeposition (EPD) on commercially pure titanium (cpTi) surfaces with pre-treatment by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). PEO-treated surfaces are porous and bioactive, which can act as a biocompatible platform for the physical adhesion of MXene to the titanium substrate. Antimicrobial photodynamic functionality will be induced by incorporating the light-sensitive antibiotic demeclocycline (DMC). For this, the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of the DMC will be determined to establish the initial concentration of the drug to be incorporated into the MXene film. Thus, the study will comprise the following groups: (1) cpTi treated with PEO (PEO), (2) PEO with MXene film (PEO+MXene), (3) PEO with DMC incorporation (PEO+MXene+DMC), and (4) PEO+MXene+DMC associated with illumination. The disc surfaces will be characterized by morphology, chemical composition, crystallinity, roughness, wettability, and degradation. In addition, the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, DMC release, photocatalytic and photothermal potential, antimicrobial activity (microcosm model), and in vitro cytocompatibility of the surfaces to MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells will be evaluated. The microbiological and biocompatibility effects will be confirmed in vivo by implanting the discs in rats (subcutaneous model). The data will be analyzed statistically with a significance level of 0.05.