In Situ electrochemical repassivation therapy of titanium dental implants can restore corrosion resistance and enhance cellular biocompatibility.
Invention Summary:
Commercially available titanium dental implants have a naturally formed protective titanium oxide (TiO2) passivation layer on their surfaces, which endows the implants with corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. In infection and inflammation conditions, however, the passivation layer on dental implants suffers partial or severe damage. Due to the limited availability of oxygen in these conditions, the titanium implant surface is unable to be repassivated over time. As a result, a vicious cycle of corrosion and inflammation ensues, which contributes to the greater complexity of managing peri-implantitis. Current peri-implantitis treatments do not address the failure of the dental implant, as there is no available method to repair the compromised passivation film of a dental implant.
Rutgers researchers have developed an intraoral electrochemical repassivation apparatus to repair the protective titanium oxide passivation layer on dental implants compromised by peri-implantitis. By enabling in situ repair of the implant’s passivation layer, the device significantly improved anti-corrosion performance, effectively hindering titanium degradation to alleviate the corrosion-inflammation cycle of titanium dental implants..
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Intellectual Property & Development Status: PCT application filed. Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration. For any business development and other collaborative partnerships, contact: marketingbd@research.rutgers.edu