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The alveolar ridge split (ARS) technique is a pivotal advancement in dental implantology, addressing the limitation of insufficient bone width for implant placement. This review traces the historical development of ARS from its initial conceptualization to current practices and future directions. Emphasizing the technique's development, indications, procedural overview, and osteotomy variations, we highlight its minimally invasive nature, which reduces patient morbidity and treatment time. This article reviews various osteotomy methods within ARS, examining their applications, benefits, and limitations. Furthermore, it discusses the technique's role in expanding treatment options for patients with compromised alveolar structures, underpinned by a high implant survival rate and the potential for immediate implant placement. We also cover the necessity of meticulous surgical technique, the importance of patient‐specific factors, and the promising future of ARS facilitated by advancements in biomaterials and regenerative medicine. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive overview of ARS, offering valuable insights for dental professionals and informing future clinical practices and research in implantology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the integration of online learning into complete denture rehabilitation (CDR) training for dental interns, highlighting its impact on their education and readiness for clinical practice. Given that CDR poses significant challenges due to its technical complexity and profound influence on patient well-being, online learning has emerged as a strategic educational tool to enhance interns' knowledge and skills. This research included the administration of a comprehensive questionnaire to 63 dental interns to assess their backgrounds, experiences with online learning, and attitudes toward its application in CDR education. The results revealed strong engagement with online learning, with a majority valuing its flexibility, accessibility, and capacity to facilitate self-paced, individualized learning. Despite the enthusiasm for online modalities, the results identified notable gaps in interns' confidence in and preparedness for performing CDR, highlighting the need for targeted improvements in online curriculum development. By emphasizing the essential role of innovative teaching methods, including virtual reality (VR), this study underscores the need for a balanced educational approach that combines traditional and digital platforms. This strategy aims to prepare future dental professionals for the complexities of modern clinical environments, ensuring that they are well equipped to meet the diverse needs of the edentulous population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Failure to restore missing teeth in time can easily lead to the mesial tilting of the distal abutment teeth. However, a fixed partial denture (FPD) can improve stress conduction and distribution and prevent periodontal injuries. In these more complex cases, it is necessary to consider various factors comprehensively to improve conventional treatment planning and achieve better results. Methods: We selected a patient with a missing first molar and a mesial inclination of the second molar, leaving inadequate space or bone mass for implant denture restoration, necessitating an FPD for restoration. Three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA) combined with photoelastic analysis were used to explore how the inclination angle (0 ‒ 30°) and different dental restoration materials (zirconia, lithium disilicate, polymer-infiltrated ceramic network, and resin composite) affect the biomechanical behaviour of FPD‒abutments‒periodontal tissue complex. Results: The stress was easily concentrated in the FPD connectors, enamel shoulder collar, periapical area, and root bifurcation. The stress on FPD and the periodontal ligament (PDL) of the second premolar increased with an increase in the elastic modulus of FPD, with an opposite trend in the abutments, the alveolar bone, and the PDL of the second molar. The stress on the FPD and alveolar bone increased with increased inclination angle of the distal abutment. The stress on two abutments and their PDL were positively correlated with the inclination angle in two stages; however, when the inclination angle > 12°, the second premolar and its PDL showed a negative correlation. Conclusions: FPDs can be used for restoration within 24° of distal abutment inclination, but protecting the abutments (< 12° especially) and the periodontal tissue (> 12° especially) must be taken seriously. For this purpose, an FPD material with higher strength is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, over 12 million people are enduring the persistent pain resulting from wound infections. In these chronic wounds, concealed infections may be covered up by scabs or granulation, which impeding accurate diagnosis and treatment. To address such clinical challenges, inspired by corals, a biomimetic microneedle patch (HepMi‐PCL) is developed to indicate and treat infections within wound. Relying on high‐precision 3D printing technology, each polycaprolactone microneedle own an equally sized porous shell and cavity with heparin‐based functional hydrogel filling in. After penetrating through the scab, HepMi‐PCL can absorb exudate in wound through surficial guide grooves and pores microstructure on its microneedle, thereby indicating whether anti‐infection is needed. Upon the identification of a positive chronic infection, HepMi‐PCL will smartly activate to release drugs rapidly. Subsequently, when the infection is effectively managed and the exudate progressively decreases, the drug delivery will correspondingly slow down or cease altogether. By leveraging autonomous response and therapeutic capabilities, HepMi‐PCL demonstrates the potential to expedite the diagnosis and treatment of infections, resulting in an enhancement of healing speed for infected wounds by over 200%. Thus, the integration of diagnostic and therapeutic functions of the microneedle patch is anticipated to offer novel approaches in addressing the management of chronic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the introduction of osteo-immunomodulation as a new and important strategy to enhance material osseointegration, achieving an appropriate immune response after biomaterial implantation has become a significant challenge for efficient bone repair. In this study, a nanosilicate-reinforced sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel was fabricated by introducing montmorillonite (MMT) nanoparticles. Meanwhile, an immunogenically bioactive agent, harmine (HM), was loaded and released to induce macrophage differentiation into the M2 type. The fabricated SA/MMT/HM (SMH) hydrogel exhibited improved mechanical stiffness and stability, which also efficiently promoted macrophage anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype polarization and enhanced the secretion of pro-tissue healing cytokines for inducing a favorable immunomodulatory microenvironment for the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Furthermore, a rat air-pouch model and a critical-size bone defect model were used and the results showed that the SMH hydrogel increased the proportion of M2 macrophages and markedly reduced local inflammation, while enhancing desirable new bone formation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the SMH hydrogel accelerated the M1-to-M2 transition of macrophages by inhibiting relevant inflammatory signaling pathways and activating the PI3K-AKT1 signaling pathway. Taken together, this high-intensity immunomodulatory hydrogel may be a promising biomaterial for bone regeneration and provide a valuable base and positive enlightenment for massive bone defect repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One specific capillary subtype, termed type H vessel, has been found with unique functional characteristics in coupling angiogenesis with osteogenesis. Researchers have fabricated a variety of tissue engineering scaffolds to enhance bone healing and regeneration through the accumulation of type H vessels. However, only a limited number of reviews discussed the tissue engineering strategies for type H vessel regulation. The object of this review is to summary the current utilizes of bone tissue engineering to regulate type H vessels through various signal pathways including Notch, PDGF‐BB, Slit3, HIF‐1α, and VEGF signaling. Moreover, we give an insightful overview of recent research progress about the morphological, spatial and age‐dependent characteristics of type H blood vessels. Their unique role in tying angiogenesis and osteogenesis together via blood flow, cellular microenvironment, immune system and nervous system are also summarized. This review article would provide an insight into the combination of tissue engineering scaffolds with type H vessels and identify future perspectives for vasculized tissue engineering research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, due to patient discomfort in impression taking and difficulties in prosthesis fabrication, the clinical application of obturators is significantly limited. (F) The fabricated hollow obturator; (G) the weight of the obturator was 4.1 g. gl Step 4: Obturator Try-In The obturator was smoothly inserted into the patient's fistula with an accurate fit and excellent sealing (Fig. Keywords: additive manufacturing; computer-aided design; intraoral scanning; obturator; oronasal fistula; powder bed fusion EN additive manufacturing computer-aided design intraoral scanning obturator oronasal fistula powder bed fusion 1507 1512 6 05/11/23 20230601 NES 230601 This study developed a novel digital workflow to fabricate a 3D printed hollow obturator for the prosthetic reconstruction of palatal fistula. The convex part of the obturator was allowed to partly enter the oronasal fistula to seal the tissue defect, and the concave surface of the obturator was designed to reconstruct the normal anatomic contour of the hard palate. [Extracted from the article]

Hyperlipidemia refers to the abnormal increase in plasma lipid level exceeding the normal range. At present, a large number of patients require dental implantation. However, hyperlipidemia affects bone metabolism, promotes bone loss, and inhibits the osseointegration of dental implants through the mutual regulation of adipocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. This review summarized the effects of hyperlipidemia on dental implants and addressed the potential strategies of dental implants to promote osseointegration in a hyperlipidemic environment and to improve the success rate of dental implants in patients with hyperlipidemia. We summarized topical drug delivery methods to solve the interference of hyperlipidemia in osseointegration, which were local drug injection, implant surface modification and bone-grafting material modification. Statins are the most effective drugs in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, and they also encourage bone formation. Statins have been used in these three methods and have been found to be positive in promoting osseointegration. Directly coating simvastatin on the rough surface of the implant can effectively promote osseointegration of the implant in a hyperlipidemic environment. However, the delivery method of this drug is not efficient. Recently, a variety of efficient methods of simvastatin delivery, such as hydrogels and nanoparticles, have been developed to boost bone formation, but few of them were applied to dental implants. Applicating these drug delivery systems using the three aforementioned ways, according to the mechanical and biological properties of materials, could be promising ways to promote osseointegration under hyperlipidemic conditions. However, more research is needed to confirm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone defects are a common bone disease, which are usually caused by accidents, trauma and tumors. However, the treatment of bone defects is still a great clinical challenge. In recent years, research on bone repair materials has continued with great success, but there are few reports on the repair of bone defects at a high lipid level. Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor in the process of bone defect repair, which has a negative impact on the process of osteogenesis, increasing the difficulty of bone defect repair. Therefore, it is necessary to find materials that can promote bone defect repair under the condition of hyperlipidemia. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been applied in the fields of biology and clinical medicine for many years and developed to modulate osteogenic differentiation and adipogenic differentiation. In vitro and vivo studies displayed that they promoted bone formation and inhibited fat accumulation. Further, the metabolism and mechanisms of AuNPs acting on osteogenesis/adipogenesis were partially revealed by researchers. This review further clarifies the role of AuNPs in osteogenic/adipogenic regulation during the process of osteogenesis and bone regeneration by summarizing the related in vitro and in vivo research, discussing the advantages and challenges of AuNPs and highlighting several possible directions for future research, with the aim to provide a new strategy for dealing with bone defects in hyperlipidemic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the complication and success rates of root-filled teeth restored with zirconia posts in a critical review.Materials and Methods: An electronic literature search in the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Ovid-EMBASE, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases was undertaken in December 2018. Other databases were also searched for gray literature, and the electronic search was complemented by a manual search in the related reviews and references of full-text articles. Initial screening of the titles and abstracts of eligible studies was conducted by two independent reviewers in duplicate. Complication and success rates were extracted from the included studies and then pooled using a random- or fixed-effects model. Poisson regression was used to study the effect of core materials (resin vs composite).Results: Among 431 screened articles, 2 prospective and 3 retrospective studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. The pooled data showed that zirconia posts had a favorable 3-year success rate of 97.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 95.7% to 98.8%). The estimated 3-year catastrophic complication (ie, tooth extraction) rate was 0.09% (95% CI 0% to 1.67%), and the estimated 3-year noncatastrophic complication rates were 0.24% (95% CI 0% to 1.16%) for post complications, 0.78% (95% CI 0% to 4.29%) for crown complications, and 0.03% (95% CI 0% to 0.63%) for endodontic failures.Conclusion: Based on the limited number of clinical cohort studies, zirconia posts appear to be suitable for use in post-and-core systems. However, the studies included in this critical review had a relatively high risk of bias, and further well-designed clinical studies, especially long-term randomized controlled trials, are required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin (SF) is widely used to fabricate biomaterials for skin related wound caring or monitoring, and its hydrogel state are preferred for their adaptability and easy to use. However, in–depth development of SF hydrogel is restricted by their limited mechanical strength, increased risk of infection, and inability to accelerate tissue healing. Therefore, a structure–function pluralistic modification strategy using composite system of metal organic framework (MOF) as bridge expanding SF's biomedical application is proposed. After developing the photocuring and bonding SF hydrogel, a MOF drug–loading system is utilized to enhance hydrogel's structural strength while endowing its antibacterial and angiogenic properties, yielding a multifunctional SF hydrogel. The synergy between the MOF and SF proteins at the secondary structure level gives this hydrogel reliable mechanical strength, making it suitable for conventional wound treatment, whether for closing incisions quickly or acting as adhesive dressings (five times the bonding strength of ordinary fibrin glue). Additionally, with the antibacterial and angiogenic functions getting from MOF system, this modified SF hydrogel can even treat ischemic trauma with cartilage exposure. This multiple modification should contribute to the improvement of advanced wound care, by promoting SF application in the production of tissue engineering materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocompatibility and osteointegration of implants are highly desired in orthopedic and dentistry applications. The synthesis of a coating with ideal biocompatibility and osteogenic effect carries practical significance for improving the bio-inertness of pure Ti implants. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are effective surface modification agents in bone regeneration applications. Bio-MOF-1, a classic type of biofriendly MOF with a bio-derived constitution, possesses biocompatibility and osteogenic potential resulting from its Zn core and adenine ligand. In this study, bio-MOF-1 coatings at multiple concentrations were synthesized on alkali-heat treated Ti, and their cytocompatibility and osteogenic properties were systematically examined both in vitro and in vivo. Coatings were characterized to confirm the successful synthesis of bio-MOF-1 coatings. These coatings exhibited advanced thermostability, excellent biocompatibility, and stable Zn2+ release, which up-regulated the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins. Furthermore, bio-MOF-1 coating of Ti implants enhanced early osseointegration at the bone–implant interface. This study demonstrates the promising potential of bio-MOF-1 coatings with the osteogenic effect for surface modification in bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinus floor elevation is the most commonly used method for vertical bone augmentation in the maxillary posterior area. This clinical report describes a modified transalveolar approach to elevate the Schneiderian membrane when placing implants on a severely resorbed maxillary posterior ridge with a buccal-palatal width of more than 8.0 mm. In this approach, the osteotomy prepared on the crestal is bilaterally enlarged to 8.0–10.0 mm. The enlarged osteotomies provide better access, allowing instruments to be in direct contact with the bone of the sinus floor and thus elevate the Schneiderian membrane with a reduced risk of perforation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the artifacts induced by crowns composed of different materials with prepared teeth and titanium implants. Resin, metal-ceramic, ceramic and zirconia crowns were fabricated and placed onto the prepared teeth on a human cadaver head or titanium implants with prosthesis abutments on a dry human mandible. The samples were scanned on a 1.5 T MRI apparatus, and artifact areas were defined as the signal intensity and signal loss adjacent to the prosthesis and measured by a threshold tool with ImageJ2x. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Resin, ceramic, zirconia, and precious metal-ceramic crowns barely produced artifacts on the cadaver skull (p > 0.999). By contrast, pure Ti and nonprecious metal-ceramic crowns created significant artifacts (p < 0.001). The average artifacts reduction of double Au-Pt and Ag-Pd metal-ceramic crowns combined with titanium implants and abutments was 79.49 mm2 (p < 0.001) and 74.17 mm2 (p < 0.001) respectively, while artifact areas were increased in double Co-Cr and Ni–Cr metal-ceramic crowns by 150.10 mm2 (p < 0.001) and 175.50 mm2 (p < 0.001) respectively. Zirconia, ceramic and precious metal-ceramic crowns induce less MRI artifacts after tooth preparation while precious metal-ceramic crowns alleviate artifacts in combination with titanium implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osseointegration is essential for the success and stability of implants. Platelet concentrates were reported to enhance osseointegration and improve implant stability. The purpose of this review is to systematically analyze the effects of platelet concentrates on implant stability and marginal bone loss. Methods: Two researchers independently performed searches in the following databases (last searched on 21 July 2021): MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science. In addition, a manual search was carried out on references of relevant reviews and initially included studies. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) on the application of platelet concentrates in the implant surgery procedure were included. The risk of bias of RCTs and CCTs were assessed with a revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0) and the risk of bias in non-randomized studies—of interventions (ROBINS-I) tool, respectively. Meta-analyses on implant stability and marginal bone loss were conducted. Researchers used mean difference or standardized mean difference as the effect size and calculated the 95% confidence interval. In addition, subgroup analysis was performed based on the following factors: type of platelet concentrates, method of application, and study design. Results: Fourteen studies with 284 participants and 588 implants were included in the final analysis. 11 studies reported implant stability and 5 studies reported marginal bone level or marginal bone loss. 3 studies had high risk of bias. The meta-analysis results showed that platelet concentrates can significantly increase implant stability at 1 week (6 studies, 302 implants, MD 4.26, 95% CI 2.03–6.49, P < 0.001) and 4 weeks (8 studies, 373 implants, MD 0.67, 95% CI 0.46–0.88, P < 0.001) after insertion, significantly reduced marginal bone loss at 3 months after insertion (4 studies, 95 implants, mesial: MD − 0.33, 95% CI − 0.46 to − 0.20, P < 0.001; distal: MD − 0.38, 95% CI − 0.54 to − 0.22, P < 0.001). However, the improvement of implant stability at 12 weeks after insertion was limited (P = 0.10). Subgroup analysis showed that PRP did not significantly improve implant stability at 1 week and 4 weeks after insertion (P = 0.38, P = 0.17). Platelet concentrates only placed in the implant sites did not significantly improve implant stability at 1 week after insertion (P = 0.20). Conclusions: Platelet concentrates can significantly improve implant stability and reduce marginal bone loss in the short term. Large-scale studies with long follow‐up periods are required to explore their long-term effects and compare effects of different types. Trial registration: This study was registered on PROSPERO, with the Registration Number being CRD42021270214. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information about the aesthetic effects of flapless in implant surgeries is scant. Differences of the survival rate (SR) and crestal bone loss (CBL) between the two techniques were also controversial. Thus, this review was aimed to compare the general and aesthetic effects of flapless and flap approaches in implant surgeries. Materials and methods: Following the principals of PRISMA, literature databases were searched for the eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical performances of flap and flapless techniques. After that, relevant data of selected studies were pooled and analyzed to compare SR, bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), visual analogue scale (VAS), papillae presentation index (PPI), keratinized mucosa (KM) width and CBL between the two techniques. Results: Fourteen RCTs were included. No significant difference was found in SR (RR = − 0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) (− 0.05, 0.04)), BOP (OR = 0.40, 95% CI (0.15, 1.02)), KM width (WMD = − 0.42, 95% CI (− 1.02, 0.17)) between two groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that the difference of CBL was insignificant in two groups (WMD = − 0.13, 95% CI (− 0.63, 0.38)). However, flap techniques would lead more peri-implant PD (WMD = − 0.37, 95% CI (− 0.51, − 0.23)). Subgroup analysis also indicated lower VAS scores in flapless group after 1 day (WMD = − 1.66, 95% CI (− 2.16, − 1.16)) but comparable pain experience after 3 days (WMD = − 0.59, 95% CI (− 1.33, 0.16)). Mean difference of PPI (WMD = 0.32, 95% CI (0.28, 0.35)) between the two groups was significant. Conclusions: The flapless procedure showed a superiority in preserving gingival papillae, reducing postoperative pain and peri-implant PD compared to the flap procedure, while exhibiting comparable effects on SR, BOP, KW width changes and CBL. Flapless technique is more recommended at the ideal soft and hard tissue implanting sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice is for an article titled "A mussel-inspired film for adhesion to wet buccal tissue and efficient buccal drug delivery" published in Nature Communications. The notice states that errors were found in Figures 6c, 7b, and in Supplementary Figs. 5d, 8d, 8f due to the similarity of different group names. The errors have been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article. The notice also provides a link to the corrected supplementary information. The authors of the article are Shanshan Hu, Xibo Pei, Lunliang Duan, Zhou Zhu, Yanhua Liu, Junyu Chen, Tao Chen, Ping Ji, Qianbing Wan, and Jian Wang. [Extracted from the article]

This clinical report describes a combined lateral-crestal approach to elevate the sinus floor when placing implants on a wide maxillary posterior ridge. The buccally enlarged osteotomy broadens the vision of practitioners and facilitates access of instruments in the sinus. Compared with the traditional lateral approach of sinus lift, the proposed technique offers a more conservative treatment modality. A clinical study with sufficient subjects and long-term follow-up is needed to validate the potential and limitations of the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administration of drugs via the buccal route has attracted much attention in recent years. However, developing systems with satisfactory adhesion under wet conditions and adequate drug bioavailability still remains a challenge. Here, we propose a mussel-inspired mucoadhesive film. Ex vivo models show that this film can achieve strong adhesion to wet buccal tissues (up to 38.72 ± 10.94 kPa). We also demonstrate that the adhesion mechanism of this film relies on both physical association and covalent bonding between the film and mucus. Additionally, the film with incorporated polydopamine nanoparticles shows superior advantages for transport across the mucosal barrier, with improved drug bioavailability (~3.5-fold greater than observed with oral delivery) and therapeutic efficacy in oral mucositis models (~6.0-fold improvement in wound closure at day 5 compared with that observed with no treatment). We anticipate that this platform might aid the development of tissue adhesives and inspire the design of nanoparticle-based buccal delivery systems. Minimally invasive drug delivery is of wide interest and oral tissue is an attractive target for this. Here, the authors report on the creation of mussel-inspired films for retention on the wet oral tissue for the delivery of drugs by diffusion and transport though the mucosal tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their high specific surface area, graphene oxide and graphene oxide-base nanoparticles have great potential both in dual-drug delivery and combination chemotherapy. Herein, we developed cisplatin (Pt) and doxorubicin (DOX) dual-drug-loaded PEGylated nano-graphene oxide (pGO) to facilitate combined chemotherapy in one system. In this study, nano-sized pGO-Pt/DOX ranged around 161.50 nm was fabricated and characterized using zeta-potential, AFM, TEM, Raman, UV-Vis, and FTIR analyses. The drug delivery efficacy of Pt was enhanced through the introduction of pGO, and the final weight ratio of DOX: Pt: pGO was optimized to 0.376: 0.376: 1. In vitro studies revealed that pGO-Pt/DOX nanoparticles could be effectively delivered into tumor cells, in which they induced prominent cell apoptosis and necrosis and exhibited higher growth inhibition than the single drug delivery system or free drugs. The pGO-Pt/DOX induced the most prominent cancer cell apoptosis and necrosis rate with 18.6%, which was observed almost 2 times higher than that of pGO-Pt or pGO-DOX groups. in the apoptosis and necrotic quadrants In vivo data confirmed that the pGO-Pt/DOX dual-drug delivery system attenuated the toxicity of Pt and DOX to normal organs compared to free drugs. The tumor inhibition data, histopathology observations, and immunohistochemical staining confirmed that the dual-drug delivery system presented a better anticancer effect than free drugs. These results clearly indicated that the pGO-Pt/DOX dual-drug delivery system provided the means for combination drug delivery in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, various particulate materials have played important roles in medical applications. However, nano- and micron-sized particles of the same material could exhibit distinct properties due to different particle sizes. This finding provided a simple and effective way to improve the biological applications of particulate materials. Therefore, as a highly promising member, the effect of the particle size change of the magnesium metal organic framework-74 (Mg-MOF74) was well worth evaluating. Here we firstly assessed the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of micron/nanoscale Mg-MOF74 (m-Mg-MOF74/n-Mg-MOF74) in detail. Our in vitro study revealed that compared to micron-sized subjects, n-Mg-MOF74 provided a wider range of safe concentrations. Furthermore, both micron/nanoscale Mg-MOF74 showed good biocompatibility and allowed all the rats under the treatment to survive through the expected experimental periods, with n-Mg-MOF74 still showing lower cardiotoxicity. These advantages of nanoscale Mg-MOF74 might benefit from its sustainable and balanced release of Mg2+ both inside and outside the cells. Based on the biosafety evaluation, advanced bio-functional assessments of m/n-Mg-MOF74 including early osteogenesis and angiogenesis were also performed. Similarly, the suitable dose groups of n-Mg-MOF74 achieved optimal early osteogenic promotion and angiogenic stimulation effects. Overall, our combined data delineated the toxicity and biological behaviors of Mg-MOF74 of different scales, and suggested nanoscale Mg-MOF74 as a better choice for future applications. This result revealed that particle size reduction might be a viable strategy to improve and expand medical applications of MOFs or other particulate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 coating with certain density can significantly improve the osteogenic activity of titanium implants both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we loaded dimethyloxalylglycine into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8-modified implants (Z-AHT) to enhance the angiogenic activity, and the obtained products were denoted as D-AHT. Firstly, we characterized the specimens via scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and surface contact angle. Then, the release kinetics of both zinc ions and dimethyloxalylglycine were investigated. To illustrate the combined effects of surface topography and chemistry (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 and dimethyloxalylglycine) on osteogenic and angiogenic activity, MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were respectively cultured on D-AHT. Pure Ti and Z-AHT were designated as control groups. As evidenced by the expression of osteogenic genes (Alp, Col1, Opg, and Runx2) and the secretion of ALP protein, D-AHT showed comparable osteogenic activity to Z-AHT which was better than that of Ti. Further angiogenesis assay revealed a better human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration on D-AHT, suggesting that D-AHT can be an attractive candidate for application in implant surface modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium (Ti) has been commonly used as an implant material in dentistry and bone surgery for several decades. Meanwhile, surface modification of titanium can enhance the osseointegration of implants. In this study, a graphene oxide/chitosan/hydroxyapatite (GO/CS/HA) composite coating was fabricated by electrophoretic deposition on Ti substrates. Subsequently, the surface morphology, phase composition, wettability, and bonding strength of this composite coating were researched. Additionally, in vitro cytological examination was performed, including evaluations of cell adhesion, cell viability, cell differentiation, cell mineralization, and osteogenetic factor expression. Finally, the in vivo osteogenetic properties were evaluated through an animal study, including a histological analysis, a microcomputed tomography, and biomechanical tests. The results showed that a homogeneous and crack‐free GO/CS/HA composite coating was coated on Ti, and the wettability and bonding strength of the GO/CS/HA composite coating were enhanced compared with HA, GO/HA, and CS/HA coatings. Furthermore, the GO/CS/HA coating greatly heightened the cell–material interactions in vitro. Additionally, this GO/CS/HA‐Ti implant could enhance osseointegration in vivo. Consequently, GO/CS/HA‐Ti may have potential applications in the field of dental implants. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 635–645, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the survival and complication rates of all‐ceramic resin‐bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs). Materials and Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were applied. A systematic search was conducted by an electronic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases complemented by a manual search. Only clinical studies on all‐ceramic RBFDPs with a mean follow‐up period of at least 3 years qualified for data analyses. Results: Among 1503 screened articles, one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and seven prospective or retrospective cohort studies were included in this study. The estimated 5‐year survival rate of all‐ceramic RBFDPs was 91.2%. Debonding and framework fracture were the two most frequent technical complications, and the estimated 5‐year debonding rate and fracture rate were 12.2% and 4.8%, respectively. Additionally, cantilevered all‐ceramic RBFDPs had a higher survival rate (p < 0.01), lower debonding rate, (p < 0.05), and fracture rate (p < 0.01) compared with two‐retainer all‐ceramic RBFDPs. Zirconia ceramic RBFDPs had a lower incidence of failure but a higher debonding rate compared with glass‐ceramic RBFDPs (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this systematic review, although all‐ceramic RBFDPs have a favorable 5‐year survival rate, this rate cannot represent the complete success of the treatment, since it may include typical complications such as debonding and fractures. There is an urgent need for long‐term clinical studies, especially for well‐designed RCTs on all‐ceramic RBFDPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of alteration on speech articulation of adult patients between Hawley retainers and vacuum-formed retainers by an objective acoustic analysis of vowels and voiceless fricatives. Materials and Methods: Twenty adults, aged 19.0-29.0 years, who had just finished active orthodontic treatment were included in this study. They were divided into a Hawley retainer group and a vacuum-formed retainer group by sortation randomization method. The assessment of speech sounds was performed objectively using acoustic analysis before and after retainer application at the following time points: before wearing (T0), immediately after wearing (T1), and at 24 hours (T2), 1 week (T3), 1 month (T4), and 3 months (T5). Results: The production of /з:/, /i:/, /f/, /θ/, /s/, and /∫/ sounds for the Hawley retainer group and /i:/, /θ/, /s/, and /∫/ sounds for the vacuum-formed retainer group showed severe speech impairment according to acoustic analysis ( P < .05). A comparison of the Hawley retainer group with the vacuum-formed retainer group revealed that the performance of /i:/, /f/, and /s/ sounds were significantly different ( P < .05). Conclusion: Although sound distortion could be found in both the Hawley retainer group and the vacuum-formed retainer group, changes in articulation were more obvious in the Hawley retainer group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new class of crystalline nanoporous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently been used for biomedical applications due to their large surface area, high porosity, and theoretically infinite structures. To improve the biological performance of titanium, MOF films were applied to surface modification of titanium. Zn-based MOF films composed of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystals with nanoscale and microscale sizes (nanoZIF-8 and microZIF-8) were prepared on porous titanium surfaces by hydrothermal and solvothermal methods, respectively. The ZIF-8 films were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanoZIF-8 film exhibited good biocompatibility, whereas the microZIF-8 film showed obvious cytotoxicity to MG63 cells. Compared to pure titanium and alkali- and heat-treated porous titanium, the nanoZIF-8 film not only enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, extracellular matrix mineralization, and expression of osteogenic genes (ALP, Runx2) in MG63 cells but also inhibited the growth of Streptococcus mutans. These results indicate that MOF films or coatings may be promising candidates for bone tissue engineering. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 834-846, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a cell-penetrating peptide, the transactivating transcriptional factor (TAT) domain from HIV, was linked to PEGylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to develop a highly effective antitumor drug delivery system. FITC was conjugated on MWCNTs-polyethylene glycol (PEG) and MWCNTs-PEG-TAT to provide fluorescence signal for tracing the cellular uptake of the nanocarrier. After loaded with an anticancer agent, doxorubicin (DOX) via π − π stacking interaction, the physicochemical characteristics, release profile and biological evaluation of the obtained nano-sized drug carrier were investigated. The DOX loaded MWCNTs-PEG and MWCNTs-PEG-TAT drug carriers both displayed appropriate particle size, excellent stability, high drug loading, and pH-dependent drug release profile. Nevertheless, compared with DOX-MWCNTs-PEG, DOX-MWCNTs-PEG-TAT showed improved cell internalization, intracellular distribution and potentiated anticancer efficacy due to the TAT-mediated membrane translocation, endosomal escape and nuclear targeting. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of DOX was not compromised after being conjugated with MWCNTs-PEG-TAT and the proposed nanocarrier was also confirmed to have a good biocompatibility. In conclusion, our results suggested that the unique combination of TAT and MWCNTs as a multifunctional drug delivery system might be a powerful tool for improved anticancer drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to use a three-component photoinitiation system comprising 1wt% CQ (camphorquinone), 2wt% DMAEMA (2-(dimethylamino) ethyl meth acrylate) and 2wt% PhIPF (diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate) to initiate the copolymerization of the matrix resins which combine bisphenol-S-bis (3-methacrylate-2-hydroxy propyl) ether (BisS-GMA) with the expanding monomer unsaturated spiro orthoesters 2-methylene-1,4,6-trispiro[4,4] nonane (MTOSN), for minimizing the volumetric shrinkage that generally occurs during polymerization. It was hypothesized that MTOSN would expand volumetrically during polymerization under the three-component photoinitiator system and further reductions in volumetric shrinkage would be obtained. The performance study which consists of degree of conversion and condition of the ring-opening reactions of MTOSN, volumetric shrinkage and mechanical properties including tensile bond strength, compressive strength and Vicker's hardness were carried out respectively by Fourier transfer infrared, the dilatometer and the universal testing machine. The results supported that the dental composites based on the expanding monomer and three-component photoinitiator system engendered a greater decrease of volumetric shrinkage and better mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most commonly used techniques for purification and eventual dispersion of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is oxidation using strong acid and ultrasonication. Literature review reveals that ultrasonication of varying radiation intensities have been used during the acid oxi-dation, but few have reported whether ultrasonication of different intensities would have different effects on the structure and properties of SWNTs and how the effects are. An investigation of the effects of ultrasonic radiation intensity on SWNTs during oxidation in a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids was conducted. Ultrasonication using different intensities (50 W, 100 W, 200 W and 300 W) was used. The acid-treated SWNTs were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential test Boehm titration test and Raman spectrum analysis. Data from these experiments showed that high intensities provided stronger oxidizing conditions than lower ones. As ultrasonic intensity increased, larger number of SWNTs were destroyed and consumed to produce carbonaceous impurities, and more defects appeared in the tube walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work was to design a bio-interactive implant surface by coating recombinant human dentin matrix protein 1 (hDMP1) onto titanium and to investigate the biological function of this material. Firstly, the plasmid containing the hDMP1 cDNA was constructed and hDMP1 was expressed, purified and characterized. Then, hDMP1 was coated onto the surface of Ti substrates via a biochemical technique and the procedure was divided into three steps: in the beginning, titanium was treated by regular polishing and denoted as Cp-Ti; then, Cp-Ti received alkaline and water treatment and was nominated as AW-Ti; finally, AW-Ti was coated with hDMP1 and referred to as hDMP1-Ti. The inserts of hDMP1 genes were detected by enzyme digestion as well as gel electrophoresis, and the complete nucleotide sequence of hDMP1 was tested. The purified recombinant hDMP1 was electrophoresed on a 10 % SDS-PAGE gel. Cp-Ti, AW-Ti and hDMP1-Ti were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and water contact angles tests. The biological activity of MG63 cells cultured in the three groups was investigated by the cell attachment, proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity assays. The results show that hDMP1 was successfully constructed and coated onto the titanium surface, and hDMP1-Ti had higher hydrophilicity than Cp-Ti. Compared with Cp-Ti and AW-Ti, hDMP1-Ti showed better in vitro bioactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sintering temperature and particle size on the translucency of yttrium stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP) dental ceramic. Eighty disc-shaped and cylindrical specimens were fabricated from zirconia powers of particle size 40 and 90 nm. These specimens were sintered densely at the final sintering temperature 1350, 1400, 1450 and 1500°C, respectively. The visible light transmittance, sintered density and microstructure of the sintered block were examined. The results showed that the sintered densities and transmittances increased with the temperature from 1,350 to 1,500°C. Y-TZP could gain nearly full density and about 17-18% transmittance at the final sintering temperature of 1,450-1,500°C. The 40-nm powders had higher sintered density and transmittance than the 90-nm. The translucency of Y-TZP dental ceramic could be improved by controlling the final sintering temperature and primary particle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of various alumina additions on the optical property of zirconia/alumina composite ceramics was investigated. The relative sintered densities, transmittances, color and the microstructure of the composite ceramics were studied. The experimental results showed that the relative sintered densities and transmittances decreased with alumina addition. The lightness increased obviously but the chroma change was small. Pure zirconia nanopowders sintered densely could obtain the relatively high transmittance, while the transmittance and the lightness of slight addition changed significantly. The zirconia/alumina composite ceramics with alumina addition less than 7.5wt% could achieve the relatively stable and reliable optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone tissue engineering commonly encompasses the use of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to provide a suitable microenvironment for the propagation of cells to regenerate damaged tissues or organs. 3D printing technology has been extensively applied to allow direct 3D scaffolds manufacturing. Polycaprolactone (PCL) has been widely used in the fabrication of 3D scaffolds in the field of bone tissue engineering due to its advantages such as good biocompatibility, slow degradation rate, the less acidic breakdown products in comparison to other polyesters, and the potential for loadbearing applications. PCL can be blended with a variety of polymers and hydrogels to improve its properties or to introduce new PCL-based composites. This paper describes the PCL used in developing state of the art of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. In this review, we provide an overview of the 3D printing techniques for the fabrication of PCL-based composite scaffolds and recent studies on applications in different clinical situations. For instance, PCL-based composite scaffolds were used as an implant surgical guide in dental treatment. Furthermore, future trend and potential clinical translations will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Irrigation is considered to be a critical part of root canal treatment. However, little is known about the effect of needle movement on the irrigation process. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of the syringe and needle movement on root canal irrigation using a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical model.Methods: The CFD codes Flow-3D was adopted to simulate the root canal irrigation process with the syringe and needle moving up and down in motions at different amplitudes and frequencies. One stationary needle was adopted to allow comparison with the needles in up-and-down motions. Six cases where the needles were moving up and down with different amplitudes and frequencies were used to investigate the relationships between the motion of needle and irrigation efficacy.Results: The stationary needle gained relatively higher flow velocity and apical pressure all through the irrigation process, while the needles in constant up-and-down motions exhibited lower mean flow velocity and apical pressure. The larger the amplitude, the less mean flow velocity and apical pressure were developed. In addition, the needles moving with different frequencies were similar in the terms of irrigant replacement and apical pressure.Conclusions: To avoid periapical extrusion accidents while obtaining adequate irrigant replacement, the needle should be moving up and down with a moderate amplitude during manual root canal irrigation; and the motion frequency was not highly relevant in terms of the irrigation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have witnessed abundant breakthroughs in research on the bio-applications of graphene family materials in current years. Owing to their nanoscale size, large specific surface area, photoluminescence properties, and antibacterial activity, graphene family materials possess huge potential for bone tissue engineering, drug/gene delivery, and biological sensing/imaging applications. In this review, we retrospect recent progress and achievements in graphene research, as well as critically analyze and discuss the bio-safety and feasibility of various biomedical applications of graphene family materials for bone tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]