A light-curable bioadhesive to prevent infection

When a dental implant or percutaneous prosthetic passes through the skin, a vulnerable gap is created where the device meets soft tissue (skin, mucosa). In natural teeth, the body seals this gap using hemidesmosomes—microscopic protein "rivets" that anchor epithelial cells to the tooth surface.Hemidesmosome Instructive Light-curable Biosealants (HILBs) are specialized resin coatings designed to mimic this natural biology. By utilizing specific polar components within the monomer chemistry, HILBs control the organization and presentation to the cells of their own pericellular matrix. This engineered matrix "instructs" the specialized epithelial cells to favor the formation of a biologically tight seal via hemidesmosome expression. This seal at the implant-epithelium interface acts as a physical and biological barrier, preventing bacterial invasion and subsequent colonization (peri-implantitis).Designed for versatility, HILBs can be applied during surgery to prevent complications or in a clinical setting to treat existing infections. They represent a user-friendly, cost-effective solution with broad potential across various transmucosal and transdermal medical applications.