A Novel Use for Biphosphonates !

A Bioactive Nanolayer for Orthopedic and Dental Implants

(Nanowerk News) AddBIO AB, a subsidiary of Accelerator Nordic AB, has developed Zolidd®, a proprietary bioactive nanolayer for orthopedic and dental implants that releases bisphosphonate, a bone strengthening drug. A randomized clinical trial, conducted at Linköping University Hospital, Sweden, shows that dental implants with a bisphosphonate nanolayer have improved stability (see paper in Bone:"A bisphosphonate-coating improves the fixation of metal implants in human bone. A randomized trial of dental implants").

Millions of people worldwide have dental implants, i.e. screws inserted to support artificial teeth. The first time after surgery, the implant is often not stable enough to enable chewing. It may take several months for the bone around the implant to heal and become strong enough for the patient to regain normal chewing function.

"The study shows that local bisphosphonate improves implant stability, meaning that the time until normal chewing function could be shortened, thus reducing the suffering for the patient", says Professor Per Aspenberg, Linköping University Hospital, co-founder of AddBIO.

Zolidd is the first application from a platform technology designed for local release of drugs from medical implants, developed by Professors Per Aspenberg and Penti Tengvall, Linköping University. A nanometer-thin protein layer is attached to the metal surface and a bisphosphonate is attached to the protein. When the bisphosphonate is released, a local effect is obtained, which improves implant stability. In the present study, a Zolidd prototype was used to release bisphosphonate in this way.

Sixteen patients each received two implants, one with bisphosphonate and one without. After six months, the bisphosphonate treated implant showed improved stability in 15 out of 16 patients. On x-rays, the treated implants showed positive effects already after two months. No complications occurred.

"This is an important study. With these results, we are now ready to take the next step in commercializing Zolidd", says Dr. Trine Vikinge, CEO AddBIO.

Source: AddBIO (press release)