# Multifunctional Ionic Liquids Coatings for Dental Implant Surfaces

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS · 2021 · $363,375

## Abstract

Multifunctional Ionic liquids Coatings for Dental Implant Surfaces
Abstract
Titanium dental implants are known for their high success rates and adequate osseointegration in vivo. However,
with an increasing number of implants used, higher incidence of implant complications and failures have been
recently reported. Implant failure is classified either as early or late stage failure. Early stage failure occurs when
osseointegration is not achieved typically due to bacterial contamination, premature loading, excessive surgical
trauma and impaired healing. Late stage failure occurs when implant osseointegration is lost having common
etiological factors associated with bacterial-induced bone loss causing peri-implantitis, and excessive occlusal
stresses. Recently, corrosion has also been considered a phenomenon underlying surface integration and
performance. Bacteria seem to be key players in both early and late stage failures, with their presence influencing
the establishment and loss of osseointegration. Hence, the success or failure of a dental implant can be related
to its surface integration with soft and bone tissues versus biofilm adhesion. Early bacterial colonizers forming
biofilms can impair soft tissue sealing by infiltrating and interrupting the process of surface integration. Current
surface treatment techniques for dental implants typically aim to improve only one aspect of the problem, such
as prevention of infection, promotion of osseointegration, or corrosion protection. However, to improve implant
function, it is crucial to prevent early bacterial adhesion and to promote a permissive environment for tissue
integration. In order to achieve multi-functionalities on implant surfaces, the goal of this proposal is to develop a
new generation of coatings using ionic liquid (IL) technology. Non-toxic dicationic imidazolium-based IL coatings
were designed to confer the surface of dental implants with: (i) antimicrobial activity for mitigation of biofilm
adhesion, which will enable host cells to reach and seal the surface of the implant; (ii) protection of the oxide
layer at the critical initial healing phase of the implant; and (iii) improved frictional properties for implant insertion.
Aim 1 will study the competition of bacteria and host cells for the surface (“race for the surface”) of IL coated
versus non-coated titanium using a co-culture approach. A co-culture model will be developed with conditions of
varying concentrations of host and bacterial cells to test both peri-operative and post-operative models. In Aim
2, implants coated with the best-performing IL, as verified in Aim 1, will be investigated in an animal model. The
effect of IL coating on the associated inflammatory response, soft and bone tissues, osseointegration, and
bacterial load will be assessed at different time points simulating early and late healing periods. In vivo testing
will enable observation of inflammatory responses and kinetics of bone growth triggered by t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10244903
- **Project number:** 5R01DE026736-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS
- **Principal Investigator:** Danieli Rodrigues
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $363,375
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-14 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10244903

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10244903, Multifunctional Ionic Liquids Coatings for Dental Implant Surfaces (5R01DE026736-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10244903. Licensed CC0.

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