This year, two research projects were approved by the European Commission within the framework of a M-ERA.NET Call 2021 under the topic "New strategies for advanced material-based technologies in health applications".

This year, two research projects were approved by the European Commission within the framework of a M-ERA.NET Call 2021 under the topic "New strategies for advanced material-based technologies in health applications". Both projects: "-SMILE-" and "Mem4BoTiReg" were submitted by the Department of Orthodontics (Lehrstuhl für Kieferorthopädie) at the Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden. The duration of both projects is 3 years and the total funding for both projects is 2.25 million Euros.

-SMILE- Surface coating and MIcrostructuring for compound functionaLisEd biomaterials in dentistry

Project Summary

Due to the growing interest in aesthetic solutions of an increasing numbers of young adults and adult patients, there is a need for new materials for fixed orthodontic treatment especially because the aligner systems cannot be used for difficult tooth movements. An alternative aesthetic option is the use of fixed lingual systems, which are very expensive and not suitable in some cases, or the use of ceramic braces, which however, cannot be used in the lower jaw due to enamel abrasion. To solve this problem a competitive product that meets both the mechanical and aesthetic requirements, and simultaneously offsets the disadvantages of multi-materials by an antimicrobial substance to reduce caries risk, is needed.

Therefore the aim of the current project is to develop metal-polymer hybrid components for dental application, whereat the material interface will be first enhanced by additively manufactured micro-topology (macro- and micro-structuring) and by ameliorating polymer infiltration in a second step. Additionally, an active anti-microbiological substance to reduce oral biofilm formation will functionalize the composite-material surface. Although various application scenarios are conceivable in dentistry, this project addresses the field of orthodontics, in particular the production of modern dental brackets based on this functionalized multi-material.

The specific innovation lies in the enhancement of metal-polymer interface locking, generated by additive manufacturing and surface functionalization with an active antimicrobial substance. So far, for aesthetic orthodontic treatment no material combining these functions is currently available at the market.

For evidence-based results, a complex statistical design process comprising not only in-vitro and in-vivo tests of the mechanical and biological properties of these new composite braces will be followed but also pre-clinical and clinical studies. A strict data management will be complied, that adheres to the open-source agenda of the European Commission except for the cases when this engagers the consortium’s commercialization prospects and data will be explored by applying modern computational and statistical techniques. This will be marketable to optimal manufacture a product as a benchmark in the industrial design for whom the standard metal production speed and costs can be used for orientation.

“-SMILE-“ will establish such dynamic exchange between colleagues from Germany -TU Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Department of Orthodontics (Lehrstuhl für Kieferorthopädie) and Fraunhofer IWS, Poland- Bialystok University of Technology and Romania University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest -  to deliver the requirements of a marketable process chain in the medical field and to provide sufficient data to demonstrate the evidence of this new multi-material based device in this field.

The project "-SMILE-" builds on the results of the previous project "3D Mikrodent" (https://agent3d.de/mikrodent) and will be managed and coordinated by PD Dr. med. dent. Ute Botzenhart from TU Dresden in agreement with all partners. PD Dr. U. Botzenhart is already one of the originator of the ideas of the previous project, which was part of the 3D Agent consortium, and together with highly qualified partners will continue to pursue the topic on an international level.

„Mem4BoTiReg – Functionalized Membran for (4) Bone and Tissue Regeneration“ im Rahmen des M-ERA.Net Calls 2021

Project Summary

Bone defects of various sizes, resulting from trauma, malformations, pathological degeneration, cleft palate defects or iatrogenic influences, often require reconstructive bone augmentation procedures. The treatments have encompassed the utilization of a wide variety of surgical approaches bone grafts and barrier membranes.

One of the best methods to realize bone regeneration in the area of the alveolar ridge is the application of guided bone-/guided tissue-regeneration (GBR/GTR) techniques. GTR is a surgical procedure that uses both non-degradable and biodegradable barrier membranes, to direct the growth of new tissues at sites with insufficient volumes or dimensions of tissue for proper function, aesthetics or prosthetic restoration. While GTR deals with soft tissue, GBR focuses on separation of bone from the connective tissue to prevent its rapid ingrowth. Biodegradable collagen membranes are most often preferred to avoid an additional surgery to remove the non-degradable ones. However, conventional collagen membranes are usually unstable and can collapse into the defect. Furthermore, multidimensional bony defects require the application of volume-stable and load-bearing membranes and that is currently only guaranteed by non-degradable synthetic materials. Thus, the clinical need to develop a next generation of volume-stable barrier membranes, that combine biocompatibility, structural stability and patient-specific shape with biodegradable properties is of great interest. In addition to their improved mechanical properties, a major advantage of such membranes would also be an active and specific promoting function in the regeneration processes of both bone and soft tissue as well as the exact and stable adjustment in the defect areas.

The present project aims to develop, characterize and investigate in vitro and in vivo a new volume-stable barrier membrane composed of the biodegradable polymer polylactic acid (PLA), functionalized with bioactive nanoparticles and the growth factor bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2). There is still no approved close-fitting membrane on the European market that is enriched with growth factors, although they are considered to be effective in bone regeneration.

The originality of the new membranes is the personalized shape, improved mechanical properties for better application, defined biodegradation and targeted therapeutic effect. For the computer-aided 3D membranes design, exemplary Cone Beam Computed Topographical images of patients with small bone defects will be used. The advantage of this approach is on the one hand the precise adaptation of the membrane to the bone defect and teeth to maximize its stability and sealing and, on the other hand, the support of bone cells ingrowth into the defect site and the accelerated vascularization. Different structures and pore sizes, which are crucial for cell ingrowth, offer two manufacturing processes: electrospinning and rapid, tomographic volumetric 3D printing, which will be used in this project, in order to evaluate the most suitable method of manufacturing including easy sterilization process of the products as a compelling requirement for its clinical use. Performing in vivo pre-clinical implantation tests shell assess the behaviour of barrier membranes in an animal model to determine its true biomechanical integrity, biodegradation and vascularization properties as well as regeneration processes of bone and connecting tissues.

The project consortium consists of partners from three different countries. The location of two partners in Germany is Dresden. The focus of the foreign partners is on São Paulo (Brazil) and Dębica (Poland). The research groups of all four partners include scientists with above-average knowledge in the field of regenerative medicine, innovative techniques for manufacture of medical products, their functionalization and characterization. A large group of chemists, biochemists, physicians, dentists, biologists, veterinary staff and representatives of SMEs will interact and participate in this project.

The Technische Universität Dresden refers to two independent units of the Medical Faculty: Department of Orthodontics (Lehrstuhl für Kieferorthopädie) and Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research (Head Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Michael Gelinsky).

The project coordinator is PD Dr. rer. med., Dr. med.dent. Tomasz Gredes.