Functionalization of dental implant surfaces using adhesion molecules.

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that organic coating of titanium screw implants that provides binding sites for integrin receptors can enhance periimplant bone formation. Ten adult female foxhounds received experimental titanium screw implants in the mandible 3 months after removal of all premolar teeth. Four types of implants were evaluated in each animal: (1) implants with machined titanium surface, (2) implants coated with collagen I, (3) implants with collagen I and cyclic RGD peptide coating (Arg-Gly-Asp) with low RGD concentrations (100 micromol/mL), and (4) implants with collagen I and RGD coating with high RGD concentrations (1000 micromol/mL). Periimplant bone regeneration was assessed histomorphometrically after 1 and 3 months in five dogs each by measuring bone implant contact (BIC) and the volume density of the newly formed periimplant bone (BVD). After 1 month, BIC was significantly enhanced only in the group of implants coated with the higher concentration of RGD peptides (p = 0.026). Volume density of the newly formed periimplant bone was significantly higher in all implants with organic coating. No significant difference was found between collagen coating and RGD coatings. After 3 months, BIC was significantly higher in all implants with organic coating than in implants with machined surfaces. Periimplant BVD was significantly increased in all coated implants in comparison to machined surfaces also. It was concluded that organic coating of machined screw implant surfaces providing binding sites for integrin receptors can enhance bone implant contact and periimplant bone formation.