PEEK containing titanium dioxide fillers promotes biofilm formation

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Microbiology

Background:

• Polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) are biocompatible polymers used in dentistry.
• Modifications with fillers and additives alter PAEK properties but their impact on biofilm formation is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different polyaryletherketone (PAEK) compositions affect biofilm quantity and composition.
• To assess the influence of fillers on biocompatibility and microbial colonization.

Main Methods:

• Five PAEKs and reference materials were polished to controlled surface roughness.
• Surface morphology, composition, and surface free energy (SFE) were analyzed.
• Intraoral splints with material specimens were worn by participants for 24 hours to evaluate biofilm formation via microscopy and qPCR.

Main Results:

• All materials showed homogeneous surface morphology with varying SFE, generally higher than titanium.
• Filled PEEK (containing TiO₂) exhibited significantly increased biofilm formation compared to unfilled PEEK.
• Biofilm composition remained unchanged, and TiO₂ in PEEK did not enhance fibroblast viability.

Conclusions:

• Titanium dioxide fillers in PEEK increase biofilm formation.
• Material fillers can influence microbial colonization independently of cellular biocompatibility.
• Further research is needed to understand filler effects on dental material-biofilm interactions.