Doping Engineering of Piezo‐Sonocatalytic Nanocoating Confer Dental Implants with Enhanced Antibacterial Performances and Osteogenic Activity

Abstract

AbstractRescuing dental implants from plaque‐induced infection and implementing effective plaque control methods in a limited oral environment pose challenges for modern dentistry. To address this issue, Al ion doped strontium titanate/titanium dioxide nanotubes (Al‐SrTiO3/TiO2 nanotubes, Al‐STNT) are designed as an ultrasound‐responsive nanocoating immobilized on the Ti implant surface. Introducing Al3+ ions into the inorganic sonosensitive SrTiO3/TiO2 heterojunction induces oxygen vacancies and disrupts the lattice of SrTiO3. By overcoming the bandgap barrier through ultrasonic stimulated piezoelectric effect, Al‐STNT produces more reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the sonodynamic therapy (SDT) process, stimulus on Al‐STNT induces abundant ROS efficiently disrupting the bacteria biofilm and inhibiting biofilm metabolism. Moreover, the specific nanoscale SrTiO3 coating endows dental implants with osteogenic activity, facilitating the formation of rigid osseointegration between the implant surface and alveolar bone. By mimicking human dental implants in rats, Al‐STNT demonstrates optimal postimplant osseointegration while retaining its antibacterial ability as a sonosensitizer. Thanks to the portability of the ultrasound instrument and the stability of implant‐based sonosensitizer, this strategy presents an attractive option for patients to self‐treat and secure the long‐term success of their implants.