Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) researchers have developed a 3D-printed “smart” membrane designed to treat gum disease and prevent jawbone damage, marking a potential breakthrough in dental care.
Periodontitis, a chronic gum inflammation, affects up to 74% of people worldwide. It causes swelling, destroys the tissues that support teeth, and gradually erodes the jawbone. Without treatment, the condition can lead to loose teeth and eventual tooth loss.
One current treatment for bone loss from periodontitis is Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). This surgical method uses a barrier membrane to protect the site where new bone is growing. But existing membranes have drawbacks. Non-resorbable types require a second surgery for removal, while resorbable ones often dissolve too quickly before healing is complete.
To address these limitations, Muhammad Hidayat Syahruddin, a doctoral student at UGM’s Faculty of Dentistry, has created a honeycomb-structured GBR membrane using 3D printing. The material is primarily poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a safe, biocompatible polymer that degrades at the same pace as tissue growth.
The membrane is coated with silver-ion carbonate apatite (Ag-CHA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This layer improves flexibility, boosts water absorption, and delivers antibacterial protection. Silver ions help prevent infections, which are common in the mouth during healing.
“This membrane has been shown to kill six major types of bacteria that cause periodontitis, including Porphyromonas gingivalis,” Syahruddin said on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
He explained that the innovation promotes bone growth, shields the area from infection, degrades in a controlled way, and removes the need for additional surgery.
The project is part of the Master’s-to-Doctorate for Outstanding Undergraduate Students (PMDSU) program, which Syahruddin joined in 2022. His work is supervised by Professor Ika Dewi Ana, with co-promotors Dr. Rahmi Anggraeni from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Dr. Dyah Irnawati, and Dr. Natalia Beshchasna from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) in Germany.
This research builds on UGM’s work in engineering carbonate apatite (CHA) for antibacterial use. Professor Ana noted that UGM already has several CHA-based technologies in commercial use. “Syahruddin applied silver ion substitution in CHA to coat the membrane. In the future, the focus may shift to self-assembled surfaces that can adapt automatically to protect the healing area from bacteria,” she said.
Professor Widowati Siswomihardjo, head of UGM’s Doctoral Program in Dental Sciences, called the project a step toward safer and more effective treatments for gum disease and dental implants. “We encourage our students to think about the real impact their research can have. This work shows that vision,” she said.
