Electrospun PVP Fibers as Carriers of Ca2+ Ions to Improve the Osteoinductivity of Titanium-Based Dental Implants

Although titanium and its alloys are widely used as dental implants, they cannot induce the formation of new bone around the implant, which is a basis for the functional integrity and long-term stability of implants. This study focused on the functionalization of the titanium/titanium oxide surface as the gold standard for dental implants, with electrospun composite fibers consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and Ca2+ ions. Polymer fibers as carriers of Ca2+ ions should gradually dissolve, releasing Ca2+ ions into the environment of the implant when it is immersed in a model electrolyte of artificial saliva. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the successful formation of a porous network of composite fibers on the titanium/titanium oxide surface. The mechanism of the formation of the composite fibers was investigated in detail by quantum chemical calculations at the density functional theory level based on the simulation of possible molecular interactions between Ca2+ ions, polymer fibers and titanium substrate. During the 7-day immersion of the functionalized titanium in artificial saliva, the processes on the titanium/titanium oxide/composite fibers/artificial saliva interface were monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It can be concluded from all the results that the composite fibers formed on titanium have application potential for the development of osteoinductive and thus more biocompatible dental implants.

Alendronate as Bioactive Coating on Titanium Surfaces: An Investigation of CaP-Alendronate Interactions

The surface modification of dental implants plays an important role in establishing a successful interaction of the implant with the surrounding tissue, as the bioactivity and osseointegration properties are strongly dependent on the physicochemical properties of the implant surface. A surface coating with bioactive molecules that stimulate the formation of a mineral calcium phosphate (CaP) layer has a positive effect on the bone bonding process, as biomineralization is crucial for improving the osseointegration process and rapid bone ingrowth. In this work, the spontaneous deposition of calcium phosphate on the titanium surface covered with chemically stable and covalently bound alendronate molecules was investigated using an integrated experimental and theoretical approach. The initial nucleation of CaP was investigated using quantum chemical calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) level. Negative Gibbs free energies show a spontaneous nucleation of CaP on the biomolecule-covered titanium oxide surface. The deposition of calcium and phosphate ions on the alendronate-modified titanium oxide surface is governed by Ca2+-phosphonate (-PO3H) interactions and supported by hydrogen bonding between the phosphate group of CaP and the amino group of the alendronate molecule. The morphological and structural properties of CaP deposit were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This integrated experimental-theoretical study highlights the spontaneous formation of CaP on the alendronate-coated titanium surface, confirming the bioactivity ability of the alendronate coating. The results provide valuable guidance for the promising forthcoming advancements in the development of biomaterials and surface modification of dental implants.

Calcium complexation by steroids involved in the steroidogenesis

Steroids that take part in the pathways of human steroidogenesis are involved in many biological mechanisms where they interact with calcium. In the present work, the binding selectivities and affinities for calcium of progestagens, mineralocorticoids, androstagens, and estrogens were studied by Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS). The adduct profile of each steroid was characterized by high resolution and tandem mass spectrometry. The relative stability of the most important adducts was studied by threshold collision induced dissociation, E1/2. Doubly-charged steroid-calcium complexes [nM + Ca]2+ with n = 1-6 were predominant in the mass spectra. The adduct [5M + Ca]2+ was the base peak for most 3-keto-steroids, while ligands bearing hindered ketones or α-hydroxy-ketones also yielded [nM + Ca + mH2O]2+ with n = 3-4 and m = 0-1. Principal component analysis allowed us to spot the main differences and similarities in the binding behavior of these steroids. The isomers testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone, androstanolone and epiandrosterone, and 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone showed remarkable differences in their adduct profiles. Computational modeling of representative adducts was performed by density functional theory methods. The possible binding modes at low and high numbers of steroid ligands were determined by calcium Gas Phase Affinity, and through modeling of the complexes and comparison of their relative stabilities, in agreement with the experimental results.

Surface Functionalisation of Dental Implants with a Composite Coating of Alendronate and Hydrolysed Collagen: DFT and EIS Studies

The success of the osseointegration process depends on the surface characteristics and chemical composition of dental implants. Therefore, the titanium dental implant was functionalised with a composite coating of alendronate and hydrolysed collagen, which are molecules with a positive influence on the bone formation. The results of the quantum chemical calculations at the density functional theory level confirm a spontaneous formation of the composite coating on the titanium implant, ∆G*_INT = −8.25 kcal mol⁻¹. The combination of the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations reveals the structure of the coating. The alendronate molecules dominate in the outer part, while collagen tripeptides prevail in the inner part of the coating. The electrochemical stability and resistivity of the implant modified with the composite coating in a contact with the saliva depend on the chemical nature of alendronate and collagen molecules, as well as their inter- and intramolecular interactions. The formed composite coating provides a 98% protection to the implant after the 7-day immersion in the artificial saliva. From an application point of view, the composite coating could effectively promote osseointegration and improve the implant’s resistivity in contact with an aggressive environment such as saliva.

Sensing Ability of Hybrid Cyclic Nanopeptides Based on Thiourea Cryptands for Different Ions, A Joint DFT-D3/MD Study

Theoretical studies, including quantum chemistry (QM) calculations and 25 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, were performed on two types of hybrid cyclic nanopeptides (HCNPs) that are constructed of tren-capped cryptand (HCNP1) and 1,3,5-triethylbenzene-capped cryptand (HCNP2) for selective complex formation with OAC^-, NO₃^-, HSO₄^-, F^-, Br^-, and Cl^- ions in the gas phase and DMSO. Obtained data by M05-2X, M05-2X-D3, B3LYP, and B3LYP-D3 functionals indicated that HCNPs form a stable complex with F^- in comparison to other ions. DFT-D3 results and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis indicated that dispersion and electrostatic interactions are the most important driving forces in HCNP-ion complex formation, respectively. Moreover, HOMO-LUMO analysis reveals that the reactivity of HCNP2, due to a lower band gap, is more than HCNP1. High sensing ability of the studied HCNPs for different ions was confirmed by Fermi level shifting of HNCPs to higher values during the complex formation. Finally, MD simulation results in DMSO are in good agreement with QM calculations and indicate that F^- forms the most stable complexes with HCNPs because of stronger electrostatic interactions.

Post-synthetic ion-exchange process in nanoporous metal–organic frameworks; an effective way for modulating their structures and properties

In this review paper, we considered all of the reports on the ion-exchange process which occur in the pores of MOFs. A comparison between MOFs before and after-exchange process and their applications were addressed.

A DFT and QTAIM study of the novel d-block metal complexes with tetraoxa[8]circulene-based ligands

The transition metal complexes with the tetraoxa[8]circulene-based ligand are designed. The complexation process strictly depends on matching of the d-metal cation size to the size of the tetraoxa[8]circulene formed cavity.