# Adhesion Screening of Dental Implant Materials Using Laser-Driven Acoustic Waves

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2021 · $145,580

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Bacteria accumulation on implants and devices within the oral cavity puts a patient at serious risk for infection.
Eradication of established biofilm-forming infections remains difficult, in part because the accumulated bacteria
are physiologically and metabolically distinct from the planktonic cells of the same organism. Despite intense
efforts in the field, biofilm level response to treatments and changes in environment has been hindered by the
lack of robust, quantitative, and accurate biofilm characterization techniques that can be directly correlated to
implant surfaces. Accurate biofilm adhesion measurement techniques are necessary because strong biofilm
adhesion contributes to biofilm persistence on medical device surfaces. In order to more accurately assess the
characteristics and contribution of biofilm adhesion on implant infections, an appropriate film adhesion
measurement technique must be developed for evaluation of low cohesive strength-high adhesive strength
biofilm-substrate interfaces.
 The proposed investigation is designed to overcome current limitations in biofilm adhesion measurement
techniques by harnessing laser-induced acoustic waves. We recently discovered a new technique that generates
stress waves from a pulsed laser is capable of separating a biofilm from a surface. This discovery is especially
important for biofilms with low cohesive strengths because existing measurement techniques perform poorly on
these biofilms, whereas, our newly discovered technique is well-suited for characterizing these types of biofilms.
Controlling the amplitude of the generated stress waves from a pulsed laser enables a direct comparison of the
stress required for biofilm detachment. We will assess and optimize the laser spallation technique for quantitative
biofilm adhesion strength measurement, evaluate changes in adhesion due to surface treatments (e.g.,
roughness, polymer coating). Successful completion of this research results in new tools for quantitative
adhesion measurement of biofilm-surface interfaces. Implementation of this technology will enable rational
selection of implant materials for reduced biofilm adhesion and improved clinical outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10237137
- **Project number:** 5R03DE029547-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Martha Grady
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $145,580
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-12 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10237137

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10237137, Adhesion Screening of Dental Implant Materials Using Laser-Driven Acoustic Waves (5R03DE029547-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10237137. Licensed CC0.

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