The average human lifespan has doubled over the past hundred years. Due to longer life expectancy, people are increasingly experiencing health issues, some of which can lead to dental problems and, ultimately, tooth loss. Screw-based dental implants, the gold standard in tooth replacement, have a high success rate. Nevertheless, some people experience significant issues related to implant rejection—approximately 5 to 10% of dental implants fail shortly after the procedure or within about two years.

About the project

The goal of the project is to develop an innovative solution to the problem of inadequate connection between the implant and the surrounding bone tissue, known as osseointegration. The research team, consisting of scientists from National Taipei University of Technology and Warsaw University of Technology, will design a 3D-printed porous zirconium oxide structure, mimicking the natural pulp structure in the mandibular bone. The porous interior will be filled with a biodegradable hydrogel-based biomaterial, composed of polymeric materials – specifically, cross-linked chitosan, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and polyethylene glycol – containing doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. Synthetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles are a material very similar to the minerals found in the bones of animals and humans. The combination of printed materials, hydrogel, and bioactive nanoparticles will provide the necessary signals to support bone tissue regeneration, known as osteoconductive and osteoinductive signals. It will also create the right conditions and a biomimetic structure, resembling the naturally occurring bone structure, to facilitate implant integration with apatient's tissues.

“In the project, we plan to apply chemical engineering methods to predict the properties of the obtained biomaterials—specifically hydrogel and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles—to ensure the implants have the appropriate structure and bioactive properties," says Michał Wojasiński, PhD. "We hope that the results of in vitro studies will pave the way for the development of bioactive porous bone tissue implant technology.”

On the tasks of the teams from Poland and Taiwan

The project tasks carried out by the team from the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering focus primarily on synthesizing and modifying hydroxyapatite nanoparticles to exhibit bioactive properties. The nanoparticles developed by the team not only mimic the naturally occurring mineral structures in bones but also play an active role in the biological processes that take place naturally in bone tissue. Additionally, the team will prepare a hydrogel material, which is currently used as a biomaterial, including for the regeneration of intervertebral discs. Additionally, scientists from our university have experience in developing materials for 3D printing using polymers and particles from the calcium phosphate group, such as hydroxyapatite. Thanks to their expertise, the combination of hydrogel biomaterial and nanoparticles with zirconium oxide-based biomaterials developed by the Taiwanese team should lead to the creation of implants. These implants will undergo a series of in vitro studies, starting with an assessment of the cytotoxicity of the obtained structures and concluding with the verification of the bioactivation of human cells by nanoparticles.

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles - powder

The expertise of scientists from National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT) focuses on innovations in 3D printing technology, particularly in the creation of objects using multi-material 3D printing and biomechanical simulations of implants. They also analyse the impact of dynamic loads on bone stability and health, which is crucial for the design of medical implants.

About the competition

The competition was aimed at research organizations and innovative enterprises from Poland and Taiwan. Consortia composed of Polish and Taiwanese partners had the opportunity to obtain funding for applied research projects lasting up to three years. The projects could cover research in areas such as neuroscience, energy efficiency, materials engineering, smart transportation, quantum technology, cybersecurity, space research and aerospace technology, as well as semiconductors.