Coral‐inspired anti‐biofilm therapeutic abutments as a new paradigm for prevention and treatment of peri‐implant infection

Abstract

Peri‐implant infection is one of the major causes for implant failure. The transmucosal/transcutaneous surface of implant abutment is directly connected to the external environment and constantly exposed to a large number of bacteria. Establishing a robust anti‐biofilm barrier at the abutment surface to minimize the risk of peri‐implant infection is highly desirable in the field of dental implantology but remains challenging. Herein, a new class of therapeutic abutments featuring excellent anti‐biofilm performance is developed, which is achieved by admirably integrating the outstanding self‐cleaning property of polyethylene glycol and the long‐lasting renewable antibacterial property of N‐halamine. Through a comprehensive series of in vitro and in vivo experiments closely mimicking clinical conditions, therapeutic abutments have been successfully demonstrated to possess the ability of inhibiting biofilm accumulation to prevent peri‐implant infection, as well as to achieve persistent and accurate administration to reverse early‐stage peri‐implant infection. Furthermore, the therapeutic abutment could be repeatedly used, representing the characteristic of sustainable medical devices. These findings indicate a new paradigm for the prevention and treatment of peri‐implant infection.