Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative Properties

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The essential trace element zinc (Zn) has a pivotal role in wound healing and can show antibacterial activity, but its application in oral implant materials is underexplored. Customized healing abutments can modulate the peri-implant tissue health when appro...

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Main Authors: Wannes Van Holm, Katleen Vandamme, Jill Hadisurya, Ferda Pamuk, Naiera Zayed, Merve Kübra Aktan, Annabel Braem, Andy Temmerman, Wim Teughels
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Antibiotics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/5/441
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author Wannes Van Holm
Katleen Vandamme
Jill Hadisurya
Ferda Pamuk
Naiera Zayed
Merve Kübra Aktan
Annabel Braem
Andy Temmerman
Wim Teughels
author_facet Wannes Van Holm
Katleen Vandamme
Jill Hadisurya
Ferda Pamuk
Naiera Zayed
Merve Kübra Aktan
Annabel Braem
Andy Temmerman
Wim Teughels
author_sort Wannes Van Holm
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The essential trace element zinc (Zn) has a pivotal role in wound healing and can show antibacterial activity, but its application in oral implant materials is underexplored. Customized healing abutments can modulate the peri-implant tissue health when appropriate bioactive materials promoting mucosal healing are used. The present study investigated a novel Zn-containing polymer for its potential in soft-tissue engineering applications. <b>Methods</b>: Four traditional materials—titanium, glass ionomer, a composite, and the novel Zn-containing polymer—were tested in vitro for bacterial growth using a multispecies oral bacterial model compared to hydroxyapatite. The biocompatibility of the materials was also evaluated by evaluating the adhesion, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of human oral keratinocytes (HOK-18A) onto these materials, compared to tissue culture plastic. <b>Results</b>: The Zn-containing polymer exhibited a significantly lower biofilm formation compared to conventional materials as it was composed of less pathogenic bacteria. The Zn-containing material also demonstrated a superior biocompatibility towards HOK-18A, approximating the adhesion and proliferation of the keratinocytes to optimal tissue culture conditions. Moreover, these properties did not seem to degrade and were maintained over a period of 31 days. The cytotoxicity assessment revealed no significant reduction in metabolic activity for any material. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study highlights the potential of the novel Zn-containing polymer in soft-tissue engineering, owing to its antimicrobial and biocompatible assets. These properties, combined with the ease of chairside modeling, position the material as a promising alternative for creating customized healing abutments. Further research is needed to explore its mechanism of wound healing modulation and its clinical performance.
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spelling doaj-art-ebe4544add0a452f98073cb09673a7f02025-08-20T01:57:04ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822025-04-0114544110.3390/antibiotics14050441Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative PropertiesWannes Van Holm0Katleen Vandamme1Jill Hadisurya2Ferda Pamuk3Naiera Zayed4Merve Kübra Aktan5Annabel Braem6Andy Temmerman7Wim Teughels8KU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Research Unit Periodontology and Oral Microbiology (P&OM), B-3000 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Research Unit Periodontology and Oral Microbiology (P&OM), B-3000 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Research Unit Periodontology and Oral Microbiology (P&OM), B-3000 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Research Unit Periodontology and Oral Microbiology (P&OM), B-3000 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Research Unit Periodontology and Oral Microbiology (P&OM), B-3000 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Research Group, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Research Group, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Research Unit Periodontology and Oral Microbiology (P&OM), B-3000 Leuven, BelgiumKU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Research Unit Periodontology and Oral Microbiology (P&OM), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The essential trace element zinc (Zn) has a pivotal role in wound healing and can show antibacterial activity, but its application in oral implant materials is underexplored. Customized healing abutments can modulate the peri-implant tissue health when appropriate bioactive materials promoting mucosal healing are used. The present study investigated a novel Zn-containing polymer for its potential in soft-tissue engineering applications. <b>Methods</b>: Four traditional materials—titanium, glass ionomer, a composite, and the novel Zn-containing polymer—were tested in vitro for bacterial growth using a multispecies oral bacterial model compared to hydroxyapatite. The biocompatibility of the materials was also evaluated by evaluating the adhesion, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of human oral keratinocytes (HOK-18A) onto these materials, compared to tissue culture plastic. <b>Results</b>: The Zn-containing polymer exhibited a significantly lower biofilm formation compared to conventional materials as it was composed of less pathogenic bacteria. The Zn-containing material also demonstrated a superior biocompatibility towards HOK-18A, approximating the adhesion and proliferation of the keratinocytes to optimal tissue culture conditions. Moreover, these properties did not seem to degrade and were maintained over a period of 31 days. The cytotoxicity assessment revealed no significant reduction in metabolic activity for any material. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study highlights the potential of the novel Zn-containing polymer in soft-tissue engineering, owing to its antimicrobial and biocompatible assets. These properties, combined with the ease of chairside modeling, position the material as a promising alternative for creating customized healing abutments. Further research is needed to explore its mechanism of wound healing modulation and its clinical performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/5/441peri-implantitissoft-tissue engineeringzincwound healingbiocompatibilityhealing abutment
spellingShingle Wannes Van Holm
Katleen Vandamme
Jill Hadisurya
Ferda Pamuk
Naiera Zayed
Merve Kübra Aktan
Annabel Braem
Andy Temmerman
Wim Teughels
Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative Properties
Antibiotics
peri-implantitis
soft-tissue engineering
zinc
wound healing
biocompatibility
healing abutment
title Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative Properties
title_full Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative Properties
title_fullStr Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative Properties
title_full_unstemmed Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative Properties
title_short Thermoplastic Zinc-Infused Polymer for Chairside Socket Seal Abutments Enhances Antimicrobial and Tissue-Integrative Properties
title_sort thermoplastic zinc infused polymer for chairside socket seal abutments enhances antimicrobial and tissue integrative properties
topic peri-implantitis
soft-tissue engineering
zinc
wound healing
biocompatibility
healing abutment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/5/441
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