Development and characterization of additively manufactured patientspecific dental implants
Within TP-4, the hypothesis is investigated that individualized, graded dental implants with improved biomechanical performance and tissue integration can be developed using selective laser melting. Building on the results of the first funding phase, the existing in silico and in vitro model systems will be further developed to enable detailed analysis of the complex interactions between implant design, biomechanical loading, and cell and biofilm adhesion.
The FE model established in the first funding phase will be further developed to incorporate implant-supported superstructures as well as different stages of bone loss. Different approaches to stiffness optimization of implants through the use of various lattice structures will be systematically investigated and compared. The aim is to optimize the biomechanical loading of the peri-implant bone under varying clinical conditions and to reduce unfavorable stress concentrations. As established in the first funding phase, various loading scenarios such as load magnitude and direction, occlusal contact conditions, cusp inclination, antagonists, and types of superstructure will be considered.
For the experimental validation of the simulations, novel bone models will be developed that realistically replicate the mechanical properties of different bone qualities. To this end, a parameterized modeling approach accounting for both generic and patient-specific geometries will be established, enabling their transfer into physical in vitro models. These models will be used to validate the FE analyses and to investigate the mechanical behavior of implant-supported systems under realistic conditions.
A further focus is placed on the advancement of surface functionalization of additively manufactured implants. In particular, magnesium-based coatings that promote osteogenesis while simultaneously providing antibacterial properties will be developed and investigated. Their corrosion behavior will also be analyzed in order to enable controlled temporal degradation during the healing phase.
The biological properties of the functionalized implant surfaces will be systematically characterized. This includes investigations of human cell adhesion as well as initial bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, including complex multispecies biofilms under clinically relevant conditions. Furthermore, the existing 3D co-culture model will be further developed to enable the simultaneous analysis of the interactions between implant material, human tissue, and bacterial biofilms, taking corrosion-related effects into account.
By combining simulation models, experimental validation approaches, and biological test systems, a deeper understanding of the structure–property relationships of patient-specific dental implants will be achieved. The objective is to derive design strategies that enable improved biomechanical and biological integration.
