Dental implants modified with drug releasing titania nanotubes: therapeutic potential and developmental challenges

摘要

Introduction: The transmucosal nature of dental implants presents a unique therapeutic challenge, requiring not only rapid establishment and subsequent maintenance of osseointegration, but also the formation of resilient soft tissue integration. Key challenges in achieving long-term success are sub-optimal bone integration in compromised bone conditions and impaired trans-mucosal tissue integration in the presence of a persistent oral microbial biofilm. These challenges can be targeted by employing a drug-releasing implant modification such as TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs), engineered on titanium surfaces via electrochemical anodization.