Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Toronto, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1997. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

Thesis (D.Phil.(Dentistry))--Faculty of Health Sciences)-University of Pretoria, 2003. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-200).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:25:51Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 barao_var_dr_araca.pdf: 1603640 bytes, checksum: 5d48588f784413a0d8cc560b1ff6d9b0 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Objetivos: (1) Investigar o papel de diferentes níveis de pH da saliva artificial (3; 6,5 e 9) no comportamento corrosivo do titânio comercialmente puro (cp-Ti) e da liga Ti-6Al-4V (Capítulo 1); (2) Avaliar a influência do processo de corrosão na afinidade do lipopolissacarídeo (LPS) de Escherichia coli para o cp-Ti e o Ti-6Al-4V (Capítulo 2); (3) Investigar a natureza tribocorrosiva do titânio em saliva artificial em presença de LPS (Capítulo 3); (4) Comparar o efeito de diferentes designs de overdentures implanto-retidas e prótese total fixa implanto-suportada na distribuição de tensões em mandíbula edêntula pelo método de elementos finitos tridimensional (Capítulo 4). Materiais e métodos: Testes eletroquímicos como potencial de circuito aberto, espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica, e teste potenciodinâmico foram conduzidos. Para o teste de afinidade ao LPS, os espécimes foram tratados com LPS (1,5; 15 e 150 μg/ml) durante 24 horas para avaliar a aderência de LPS. Os discos foram transferidos a cada 24 horas para solução fresca de água livre de LPS até completar 72 horas, para investigar a liberação de LPS. No teste de tribocorrosão, o pH da saliva (6,5), a concentração de LPS (0, 0,15, 15 and 150 μg/ml), a duração do deslizamento (2000 ciclos), freqüência (1,2 Hz) e carga (20 N) foram usados para mimetizar o processo mastigatório. Finalmente, modelos tridimensionais de uma mandíbula edêntula foram construídos. No grupo OR a mandíbula foi restaurada com overdenture retida por implantes não esplitados com sistema de retenção O’ring; nos grupos BC-C e BC as mandíbulas foram restauradas com overdentures retidas por implantes esplintados com sistema de retenção barra-clipe associado ou não a cantilevers distais... / Objectives: (1) To investigate the role of different levels of pH of artificial saliva (pHs 3, 6.5 and 9) under simulated oral environment on the corrosion behavior of commercially-pure titanium (cp-Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V alloy (Chapter 1); (2) To assess the influence of corrosion process on Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) affinity for cp-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy (Chapter 2); (3) To evaluate the tribocorrosive (corrosion/wear) nature of titanium in artificial saliva (pH 6.5) with LPS (Chapter 3); and (4) To compare the effect of different designs of implant-retained overdentures and fixed full-arch implant-supported prosthesis on stress distribution in edentulous mandible by using a three-dimensional finite element analysis. Materials and methods: Standard electrochemical tests, such as open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic tests were conducted in a controlled environment. For LPS affinity test, specimens were treated with LPS (1.5, 15 and 150 μg/ml) for 24 hours to evaluated LPS adherence. Discs were then transferred every 24 hours to fresh LPS-free water, up to 72 hours, to investigate LPS elution. In the tribocorrosion test, the pH of saliva (6.5); LPS concentration (0, 0.15, 15 and 150 μg/ml), sliding duration (2000 cycles), frequency (1.2Hz) and load (20 N) parameters mimicked the mastication process. Finally, tridimensional models of an edentulous mandible were constructed. In the OR group, the mandible was restored with an overdenture retained by unsplinted implants with O’ring attachment; in the BC-C and BC groups, the mandibles were restored with overdentures retained by splinted implants with bar-clip anchor associated or not with distally placed cantilevers, respectively; in the FD group, the mandible was restored with a fixed full-arch implant-supported prosthesis... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Ces travaux visaient à développer de nouveaux implants biodégradables se formant in situ pour le traitement des parodontites, les infections les plus fréquentes au monde. Ces implants permettront de délivrer localement le principe actif et de contrôler sa libération. L’un des pré-requis pour ces nouveaux systèmes est de présenter une bonne bioadhésion et des propriétés mécaniques permettant d’éviter une expulsion prématurée hors de la poche parodontale.Tout d’abord, de nouveaux implants se formant in situ avec un potentiel prometteur pour surmonter l'un des inconvénients majeurs liés au traitement local de la parodontite: l’adhérence limitée aux tissus environnants ont été développés. L'addition de diverses concentrations de différents types de plastifiants (l’acetyltributyl citrate, ATBC et le dibutyl sebacate, DBS) et de polymères adhésifs (l'hydroxypropyl méthylcellulose, HPMC) ont permis d’obtenir une augmentation significative de l’adhésion des implants à base de l’acide poly(lactique-co-glycolique) (PLGA). Ces systèmes sont formés in situ à partir des formulations liquides de N-méthyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Dans le même temps, une bonne aptitude à la déformation plastique des implants a été obtenue et les cinétiques de libération du principe actif souhaitées ont pu être affinées à l'aide de plusieurs outils de formulation. L'activité antimicrobienne de ce nouveau type d'implants se formant in situ, chargés à l’hyclate de doxycycline, a été démontrée en utilisant la méthode de diffusion en gélose sur plusieurs souches de Streptococcus isolées à partir de la microflore buccale des patients souffrant de parodontite.Ensuite, une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de formation in situ des implants a été suivi en utilisant de différentes techniques tels que: la résonance paramagnétique électronique (EPR), la résonance magnétique nucléaire (1H NMR), le suivi de l’évolution de la masse et la cinétique de libération du principe actif dans différentes conditions, la microscopie optique, la chromatographie d'exclusion stérique (SEC). Des implants se formant in situ à base de PLGA, d’ATBC, de chlorhydrate de minocycline, de NMP et d’HPMC, ont été préparés et caractérisés en détail in vitro. Ces résultats ont révélé une vision approfondie sur les phénomènes physico-chimiques impliqués dans la formation de l'implant et sur le contrôle de la libération du principe actif. Par exemple, les effets de l'ajout d’HPMC dans la formulation, qui améliore l'adhérence de l'implant et réduit le gonflement, ont pu être expliqués. De manière importante, les implants se formant in situ ont efficacement empêché la croissance bactérienne dans les poches parodontales des patients. Enfin, l’impact de la composition des implants sur la performance des systèmes a été étudié. Afin d’élucider ces relations, des techniques de caractérisation de pointe, telles que l'analyse EPR ont été utilisées. Il est intéressant de noter que l’ajout d’HPMC et de PLGA de plus faible poids moléculaire a légèrement diminué la libération du principe actif, alors que dans le cas de PLGA de poids moléculaire plus élevé, la vitesse de libération a substantiellement augmenté. Ces tendances peuvent être expliquées en se basant sur la cinétique du transport de masse au cours de la formation de l'implant et des structures internes des systèmes. En outre, l'activité antimicrobienne des implants contre les micro-organismes présents dans les poches parodontales de patients atteints de parodontite a été évaluée. Ces systèmes gênent plus efficacement la croissance des bactéries pathogènes que celle des micro-organismes physiologiques. Ainsi, une recolonisation de la flore saine dans les poches des patients peut être envisagée in vivo. / This work aimed to develop new biodegradable in situ forming implants for the treatment of periodontitis, the most common infections in the world. These implants would locally deliver the active ingredient and control its release. One of the prerequisites for these new systems is to provide a good bioadhesion and mechanical properties to prevent premature expulsion from the periodontal pocket. Firstly, new in situ forming implants with promising potential to overcome one of the major drawbacks for the local treatment of periodontitis: limited adhesion to the surrounding tissue were developed. The addition of various concentrations of different types of plasticizers (acetyltributyl citrate, ATBC and dibutyl sebacate, DBS) and adhesive polymers (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, HPMC) resulted in a significant increase in the adhesion of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based implants. The systems are formed in situ from N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP)-based liquid formulations. Importantly, at the same time, good plastic deformability of the implants could be provided and desired drug release patterns could be fine-tuned using several formulation tools. The antimicrobial activity of this new type of in situ forming implants, loaded with doxycycline hyclate, was demonstrated using the agar well diffusion method and multiple Streptococcus strains isolated from the oral microflora of patients suffering from periodontitis.Secondly, a better understanding of the mechanisms of the in situ implant formation was followed using different techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), mass change and drug release measurements under different conditions, optical microscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The in situ forming implants containing PLGA, ATBC, minocycline hydrochloride, HPMC and NMP were prepared and characterized in detail in vitro. Based on these results, deeper insight into the physico-chemical phenomena involved in implant formation and the control of drug release could be gained. For instance, the effects of adding HPMC to the formulations, resulting in improved implant adherence and reduced swelling, could be explained. Importantly, the in situ formed implants effectively hindered the growth of bacteria present in the patients’ periodontal pockets.Finally, the impact of the composition of the implants on system performance was investigated using advanced characterization techniques, such as EPR analysis. Interestingly, HPMC addition to shorter chain PLGA slightly decreased drug release, whereas in the case of longer chain PLGA the release rate substantially increased. These tendencies could be explained based on the mass transport kinetics during implant formation and the systems’ inner structures. Furthermore, the implants’ antimicrobial activity against microorganisms present in the periodontal pockets of patients suffering from periodontitis was evaluated. Interestingly, these systems more effectively hinder the growth of pathogenic bacteria than of physiological microorganisms. Thus, a re-colonization of the patients’ pockets with healthy flora can be expected to be favored in vivo.

This thesis writes about biodegradable bone implants based on iron. The currently used metal-based implants have disadvantage in an often need of secondary surgery intervention to remove the implant. Therefore, there is a big research of biodegradable bone implants nowadays. In this work, iron-based materials with the addition of zinc and magnesium are being investigated. The produced samples have been immersed in a solution of NaCl and simulated body fluid, SBL. Subsequently there were regularly analysed changes of corrosion potential, pH, conductivity and also weight loss was watched.

This thesis relates to the feasibility of monitoring dental implants using the transmission of Acoustic Emission (AE) from an intra-oral source to a sensor mounted on the patient’s face. A number of in vitro and in vivo experiments have been carried using different AE sources on teeth and dental implants with the ultimate aim of defining the characteristics of the AE signatures in the time- and frequency-domains that are affected by the implant-bone interface. An initial feasibility study was carried out to assess the transmission of simulated AE signals through human teeth and hard and soft tissues by biting on different types of hard food. The tests demonstrated that the transmission of AE signals through human tissues was feasible. However, the source was not reproducible. Further preliminary experiments were carried out to assess the transmission of AE in various dental materials as well as in bone and bone-implant combinations in various states of hydration. The main systematic body of work centred around establishing whether AE signals could discriminate between implants with different amounts of contact with bone. AE signals were generated by applying a standard impulse source through a specially-designed abutment onto dental implants of various sizes (large and small) inserted in bovine ribs under tight and loose fitting conditions. The findings suggested that this simple transmission test was able to assess the quality of the contact between the implant and the bone in the in vitro situation and that it might be possible to extend this to the clinical environment. The (standard) pencil lead break method was not suitable for use intra-orally, so a more suitable source for in vivo testing needed to be developed. After considering various options a continuous source (based on an air jet) was developed and this was applied to dental implants in the same set of systematic tests as for the pencil lead source. The analysis revealed that the air jet source was a little better at discriminating between the various implant contact conditions. Finally, an in vivo study was conducted to assess the characteristics of the transmitted AE form air jet source applied to the dental implants of a number of volunteers. The findings demonstrated that the AE transmission through the implants, soft and hard tissues using an air jet source was feasible, with the degree of transmission depending on a number of variables, some related to the patients themselves and some related to other, tractable engineering factors. The overall conclusion of the work is that the technique is very likely to be successful for monitoring implant stability, and is feasible to apply with minimum invasion to patients whose implants have been newly installed. An in vivo study in which the test is applied to patients during the stages of stabilisation of their implants is required in order to validate the technique.

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy