Karan Gulati

The University of Queensland | UQ · School of Dentistry

Early establishment of integration between the implant and the surrounding bone tissue is crucial for the long-term stability of orthopedic and dental implants. To this end, surface modification of titanium-based implants have been performed to achieve augmented bioactivity and local therapy. We hereby propose the fabrication of dual micro-nano ani...

Anodization is a cost-effective technique to nano-engineer various metals, however, optimizations have been mostly restricted to Aluminium and Titanium, and for easy to manage polished and flat substrates, limiting industrial translation. Here, we aim at standardizing and simplifying anodization of ten metals, attempting to make metal nano engineer...

Alongside osseointegration, effective soft-tissue integration (STI) is crucial to the long-term success of dental implants by preventing the ingress of oral pathogens. Nanoscale surface modification of titanium dental implants has shown promise in achieving enhanced bioactivity and antibacterial efficacy. We propose the fabrication of dual micro-na...

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy has been extensively researched in endodontics, particularly in cleaning and shaping the root canal system. Research advances have primarily focused on the design, shape, and geometry of the NiTi files as well as metallurgy and mechanical properties. So far, extensive investigations have been made surrounding surface an...

Electrochemically anodized titanium-based implants with controlled titania nanotopography enables enhanced bioactivity. However, anodization optimizations have been restricted to polished flat Ti foils, while clinical implants are often micro-rough with curved geometry. To enable anodization optimization of Ti implants, we performed short-time anod...

Surface modification of implants in the nanoscale or implant nano-engineering has been recognized as a strategy for augmenting implant bioactivity and achieving long-term implant success. Characterizing and optimizing implant characteristics is crucial to achieve desirable effects post-implantation. Modified implant enables tailored, guided and acc...

Unlike orthopedic implants, dental implants require the orchestration of both osseointegration at the bone-implant interface and soft-tissue integration at the transmucosal region in a complex oral micro-environment with ubiquitous pathogenic bacteria. This represents a very challenging environment for early acceptance and long-term survival of den...

Zirconium (Zr)-based implants are rapidly gaining popularity due to their excellent physical, mechanical and biological properties. While Zr-based dental implants have shown promising outcomes, their performance may be suboptimal, especially in compromised conditions. To address this, conventional Zr implants have been modified via physical, chemic...

Nano-engineering-based tissue regeneration and local therapeutic delivery strategies show significant potential to reduce the health and economic burden associated with craniofacial defects, including traumas and tumours. Critical to the success of such nano-engineered non-resorbable craniofacial implants include load-bearing functioning and surviv...

Nanoscale surface modification of titanium-based dental implants has enhanced cellular bioactivity in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Nano-engineered Ti dental implants can also be utilized for the local release of therapeutic agents targeting poor osseo- and soft-tissue integration and bacterial infection. The enhanced surface area of nanostruc...

Orchestrating robust tissue integration, including osseointegration (OI) at the bone-implant interface, as well as soft-tissue integration (STI) at the transmucosal region, are prerequisites for the long-term success of titanium dental implants. However, the bio-inertness of titanium limits the degree of tissue integration, especially in compromise...

While titanium (Ti) is the appropriate material choice for dental implants, its corrosion within the complex and ever-changing oral environment is likely. Obtaining a chemically and electrochemically stable implant surface is essential for long-term implant success. Various modifications have been performed to augment Ti implant resistance against...

Titanium dental implants are modified in the nano-scale to enhance bioactivity and integration (soft-tissue and osseointegration). Further, compromised patient conditions require the administration of active therapeutics to achieve superior implant integration and bactericidal functions. Among these, electrochemically anodized (EA) titanium-based d...

This book provides a comprehensive technical and scientific overview of the surface modification of titanium dental implants. Coverage ranges from basic concepts of surface modification to advanced micro- and nano-engineering strategies employed to achieve augmented bioactivity to meet the needs of compromised patient conditions.A special focus of...

Titanium is the ideal material for fabricating dental implants with favorable biocom-patibility and biomechanics. However, the chemical corrosions arising from interaction with the surrounding tissues and fluids in oral cavity can challenge the integrity of Ti implants and leach Ti ions/nanoparticles, thereby causing cytotoxicity. Various nanoscale...

The study aims: 1. To perform diode laser, titanium (Ti) brush, and Ti curette treatment on sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) Ti surfaces, with/without H2O2 and CHX, 2. To investigate the influence of decontamination techniques on implant surface topography and hydrophilicity. Diode laser, Ti brush, and Ti curette treatments were performed on the G...

Electrochemically engineered titania nanopores enable tailored cellular function; however, the cellular mechanosensing mechanisms dictating the cell response and soft tissue integration are yet to be elucidated. Here, we report the fabrication of anisotropic titania (TiO2) nanopores with diameters of 46 and 66 nm on microrough titanium (Ti) via ele...

Biomaterials and implants engineered in the micro- and nano-scales have demonstrated enhanced bioactivity and therapeutic capabilities to address challenges associated with tissue regeneration, especially in compromised conditions. Besides, local cytotoxicity from modified biomaterials poses a significant clinical translation challenge, especially...

Titanium is a popular material choice across orthopaedic and dental implant industry, and surface modifications of titanium-based implants to achieve enhanced bioactivity and local drug release have been widely explored. Among these modifications, to achieve local elution of potent therapeutics, electrochemically anodized titania nanotubes (TNTs) s...

Anodization is well researched to nano-engineer Ti to fabricate TiO2 nanotubes/nanopores for varied applications, including biomedical implants. For the fabrication of reproducible and stable nanotubes/nanopores, the use of aged (few hours used) organic electrolyte to anodize Ti is recognized and practised. However, the electrolyte aging phenomenon...

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials explores the recent advances relating to nanoengineered strategies for biomaterials and implants in bone tissue engineering. Spanning across the orthopaedic and dental settings, nano-engineered biomaterials surpass the bone regeneration and integration performance of conventional macro- and micro-scaled biomateri...

Nano-engineering offers unique solutions for biomedical implants to meet compromised patient conditions via enhanced bioactivity and local drug release. This book presents the cutting-edge nano-engineered dental implant solutions that has the potential to ensure long-term success of dental implants while maintaining clinical translatability. From s...

Electrochemical anodization (EA) is a simple and cost-effective technique to fabricate controlled nanostructures, such as TiO 2 nanotubes and nanopores, on Ti substrates. Electrolyte ageing of organic EA electrolytes (repeated EA using non-target Ti prior to EA of target Ti) is recognized to influence the characteristics of the anodized nanostructu...

Titania nanotubes or nanopores self-ordered on electrochemically anodized (EA) titanium have been widely applied towards photocatalysis, solar cells, purification and biomedical implants. As a result, significant research has been focused towards optimizing its fabrication to enable controlled, stable and reproducible nanostructures. Among these, t...

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight key nano-engineering attempts that challenge current clinical standards and advance the domain of bone tissue engineering. This multidisciplinary Special Issue will inform the readers of the future prospects in this domain, bridging the gap between research and clinical translation. To this end, leading...

The goal of this Special Issue is to shine light on the recent nano-engineering advances that revolutionize the dental implant technology, with a focus on the next generation of implants capable of providing maximum local therapy to drastically reduce implant failures. This Special Issue will inform the readers of the latest nano-engineering develo...

Titanium implants are routinely placed as a replacement for damaged/diseased bone/teeth in orthopaedics and dentistry. However, the long-term success of titanium implants may be challenged, especially in patients with ongoing conditions. To augment implant bioactivity and achieve local elution of therapeutics, surface modification of titanium has s...

Zirconium-based implants have gained popularity in the dental implant field owing to their corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, attributed to the formation of a native zirconia (ZrO2) film. However, enhanced bioactivity and local therapy from such implants are desirable to enable the earlier establishment and improved long-term maintenance of...

Bacterial infection and poor implant integration are leading causes of implant failure, especially in compromised patients and conditions. Bioinspired nanotopographies fabricated on implants and bio-materials, including nanopillars, nanospikes and nanoneedles, have shown promising outcomes in imparting active bactericidal and bacteriostatic propert...

Soft tissue integration (STI) at the transmucosal level around dental implants is crucial for the long-term success of dental implants. Surface modification of titanium dental implants could be an effective way to enhance peri-implant STI. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of bioinspired lithium (Li)-doped Ti surface on the behaviou...

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys offer favorable biocompatibility, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, which makes them an ideal material choice for dental implants. However, the long-term success of Ti-based dental implants may be challenged due to implant-related infections and inadequate osseointegration. With the development of nanotech...

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys offer favorable biocompatibility, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, which makes them an ideal material choice for dental implants. However, the long-term success of Ti-based dental implants may be challenged due to implant-related infections and inadequate osseointegration. With the development of nanotech...

Towards clinical translation of bioactive nano-engineered titanium implants, achieving appropriate sterilization and understanding its influence on the modified implant characteristics is essential. With limited studies exploring the influence of sterilization techniques on electrochemically anodized titanium with TiO2 nanostructures, we aimed to a...

Bioactivity is influenced by both the chemistry and the topography of the implant surface; however, the chemical and topographical modifications of nano-engineered implants often occur concurrently. Defining whether and how each of topography and chemistry tailor specific cellular activity has the potential to aid in the fabrication of the next gen...

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound lipid particles that are secreted by all cell types and function as cell-to-cell communicators through their cargos of protein, nucleic acid, lipids, and metabolites, which are derived from their parent cells. There is limited information on the isolation and the emerging therapeutic role of periodont...

Titanium based orthopaedic/dental implants modified with various metal-doping strategies can enhance local therapy and bioactivity. Intentional or unintentional (due to loading and wear) release of metal ions/nanoparticles from metal-doped implants can be therapeutic or cause adverse local tissue reactions, compromising long-term survival. Strategi...

Zirconium has received popularity as a biomaterial for dental and orthopaedic implants; however, its bio-inertness can compromise implant-tissue integration, especially in compromised patient conditions. More recently, various nano-engineering strategies have been explored to enhance the bioactivity of Ti-based implants, however, nano-engineering o...

Anodization enables fabrication of controlled nanotopographies on Ti implants to offer tailorable bioactivity and local therapy. However, anodization of Zr implants to fabricate ZrO2 nanostructures remains underexplored and are limited to the modification of easy-to-manage flat Zr foils, which do not represent the shape of clinically used implants....

Surface modification of Ti implants has been advocated as a means to augment osseointegration and enable antibacterial functions. Among the various modification strategies, the fabrication of TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) on Ti implants via electrochemical anodization has shown promising outcomes. However, such systems do not enable activation, deactivatio...

Nanoscale surface modification of titanium-based orthopaedic and dental implants is routinely applied to augment bioactivity, however, as is the case with other cells, bacterial adhesion is increased on nano-rough surfaces. Electrochemically anodized Ti implants with titania nanotubes (TNTs) have been proposed as an ideal implant surface with desir...

Objectives. The success of a dental implant system not only depends on appropriate osseointegration at the bone-implant interface, but also on robust soft-tissue integration (STI)/muco-integration at the transmucosal region. However, numerous studies have reported that the STI quality of conventional smooth and bio-inert titanium-based transmucosa...

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructures including nanopores and nanotubes have been fabricated on titanium (Ti)-based orthopaedic/dental implants via electrochemical anodization (EA) to enable local drug release and enhanced bioactivity. EA using organic electrolytes such as ethylene glycol often requires ageing (repeated anodization of non-target T...

Osseo-integration at the bone-implant interface and soft-tissue integration (STI) at the trans-mucosal region are crucial to the long-term success of dental implants, especially in compromised patient conditions. The STI quality of conventional smooth and bio-inert titanium-based implants is inferior to that of natural tissue (i.e. teeth), and henc...

TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) are suggested as an ideal bone/dental implant surface modification strategy with tailorable cellular modulation and therapeutic functions. However, inconsistencies related to the understanding of the influence of various TNTs characteristics on Ti implant functions, and the multi-factorial inter-dependence of such characterist...

To evaluate and compare the stability, quantity and quality of bone augmentation at maxillary sinus elevation sites by non-grafted transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE) and platelet concentration grafted transcrestal sinus floor elevation (PC-TSFE). A complete literature search was performed up to April 2019. Clinical controlled trials, retrosp...

Ensuring the formation of a robust trans-mucosal soft-tissue seal at the dental abutment surface is crucial towards protecting the underlying dental implant associated tissues from the external microbial-rich oral environment. The ability to mechanically enhance fibroblast functions at the dental abutment-mucosa interface, without the use of bioact...

Background: Cell-scaffold based therapies have the potential to offer an efficient osseous regenerative treatment and PCL has been commonly used as a scaffold, however its effectiveness is limited by poor cellular retention properties. This may be improved through a porous scaffold structure with efficient pore arrangement to increase cell entrapm...

Combining micro-roughness of the current titanium implants for initial stability/inter-locking with nano-topography for enhanced bioactivity/drug-release may be an ideal solution to address therapeutic challenges inside the bone micro-environment. We hereby present a single-step electrochemical anodization using conditioned electrolyte to enable fa...

Electrochemically anodized titanium surfaces with titania nanostructures (TNS; nanopores, nanotubes, etc.) have been widely applied as therapeutic bone/dental implant modifications. Despite the numerous advancements in the field of electrochemical anodization (EA), in terms of translation into the current implant market, the research gaps in this d...

This letter describes a simple surface modification strategy based on a single-step electrochemical anodization towards generating dual micro- and nano-rough horizontally-aligned TiO2 nanopores on the surface of clinically utilized micro-grooved titanium based bone and dental implants. Primary macrophages, osteoblasts and fibroblasts were cultured...

Owing to its biocompatibility and corrosion resistance, titanium is one of the most commonly used implantable biomaterials. Numerous in vitro and in vivo investigations have established that titanium surfaces with a nanoscale topography outperform conventional smooth or micro-rough surfaces in terms of achieving desirable bioactivity. Among these n...

Rapid depletion of fossil fuel and increased energy demand has initiated a need for an alternative energy source to cater for the growing energy demand. Fuel cells are an enabling technology for the conversion of sustainable energy carriers (e.g., renewable hydrogen or bio-gas) into electrical power and heat. However, the hazardous raw materials an...

The cover image, by Karan Gulati et al., is based on the Research Article Anodized 3D—printed titanium implants with dual micro- and nano-scale topography promote interaction with human osteoblasts and osteocyte-like cells, DOI: 10.1002/term.2239.

In this paper, a comprehensive framework is proposed to estimate the anisotropic permeability matrix in trabecular bone specimens based on micro-computed tomography (microCT) imaging combined with pore-scale fluid dynamics simulations. Two essential steps in the proposed methodology are the selection of (i) a representative volume element (RVE) for...

The success of implantation of materials into bone is governed by effective osseointegration, requiring biocompatibility of the material and the attachment and differentiation of osteoblastic cells. To enhance cellular function in response to the implant surface, micro- and nano-scale topography have been suggested as essential. In this study, we p...

Introduction: The trans-mucosal nature of dental implants presents a unique therapeutic challenge, requiring not only rapid establishment and subsequent maintenance of osseointegration, but also the formation of resilient soft tissue integration. Key challenges in achieving long-term success are sub-optimal bone integration in compromised bone cond...

There is an ongoing demand for new approaches for treating localized bone pathologies. Here we propose a new strategy for treatment of such conditions, via local delivery of hormones/drugs to the trauma site using drug releasing nano-engineered implants. The proposed implants were prepared in the form of small Ti wires/needles with a nano-engineere...

Titanium implants can fail due to inappropriate biomechanics at the bone-implant interface that leads to suboptimal osseointegration. Titania nanotubes (TNTs) fabricated on Ti implants by the electrochemical process have emerged as a promising modification strategy to facilitate osseointegration. TNTs enable augmentation of bone cell functions at t...

Adverse complications associated with systemic administration of anti-cancer drugs are a major problem in cancer therapy in current clinical practice. To increase effectiveness and reduce side effects, localized drug delivery to tumour sites requiring therapy is essential. Direct delivery of potent anti-cancer drugs locally to the cancer site based...

There is considerable interest in combining bioactive polymers such as chitosan with titanium bone implants to promote bone healing and provide therapeutic needs. However, the fate of these biodegradable polymers especially on titanium implant is not fully explored. Here we report in-situ formation of chitosan microtube (CMTs) structures from chito...

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys have been used for many decades as bone implants, due to their corrosion resistance and appropriate biomechanical properties. Successful implantation may depend on effective osseointegration, requiring biocompatibility of the material and attachment and differentiation of osteoblastic cells. To enhance cellular function...

The conversion of titania (TiO2) nanotubes into titanium (Ti), while preserving their nanotubular structures, is demonstrated. Their application as bone implants and electrodes for combined local drug delivery and electrical stimulation therapy is proposed.

This work presents the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) inside titania nanotubes (TNTs) templates by a catalyst-free chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach as composite platforms for photocatalytic applications. The nanotubular structure of TNTs prepared by electrochemical anodisation provides a unique platform to grow CNTs with precisely con...

To treat skeletal conditions such as bone infections, osteoporotic fractures and osteosarcoma, it would be ideal to introduce drugs directly to the affected site. Localized drug delivery from the bone implants is a promising alternative to systemic drug administration. In this study we investigated electrochemically nano-engineered Ti wire implants...

Electrochemically engineered nanoporous anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) prepared on aluminium (Al) foil by anodization process was employed as a platform for loading different forms of selenium (Se) in order to investigate their release behaviour and potential application for localized drug delivery targeting bone cancer. Several forms of Se includi...

Electrochemically engineered nanoporous anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) prepared on aluminium (Al) foil by anodization process was employed as a platform for loading different forms of selenium (Se) in order to investigate their release behaviour and potential application for localized drug delivery targeting bone cancer. Several forms of Se includi...

Electrochemically engineered nanoporous anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) prepared on aluminium (Al) foil by anodization process was employed as a platform for different forms of selenium (Se) in order to investigate their release behaviour and potential application for localized drug delivery targeting bone cancer. Several forms of Se including inorg...

The principal challenge for bone therapy is to deliver an effective dose of therapeutic agent (for example antibiotic or anti-cancer drug) to the affected site within bone, while sparing other organs. The solution to this dilemma is to deliver drug locally within the bone; hence various surface/therapeutic modifications of the conventional bone imp...