Oral Implantology Lab

In this lab, we develop predictive in vitro models to gain fundamental knowledge on cell-material interactions, and cell fate decision in response to environmental cues. We use a cell-molecular toolkit of biomaterials and different cell types to engineer 3-dimensional systems.

Specifically, we develop fibrous scaffolds based on electrospinning, investigate osteogenesis of different progenitor cells under various outer stimuli, and aim to gain a thorough understanding of bone remodelling and soft tissue adhesion in response to dental implants. We thrive to find solutions for clinical challenges in oral implantology with the goal to ultimately improve patient satisfaction and provide long-term solutions.

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Erdgeschoss

Notfall Erwachsene
Klinik für Oralchirurgie
Zentrum für Senioren­­zahn­medizin
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1. Obergeschoss

Notfall Kinder
Klinik für Kinder- & Jugend­­zahnmedizin
Klinik für Kiefer­orthopädie
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2. Obergeschoss

Behandlung Studierende
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3. Obergeschoss

Klinik für Allgemeine Zahnmedizin
Klinik für Oral Health & Medicine
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4. Obergeschoss

Klinik für Zahnerhaltung
Klinik für Rekonstruktive Zahnmedizin
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Our Team

Our journey started in April 2023, when Géraldine has been appointed Assistant Professor and Group Leader of the Oral Implantology Lab. Our group complements ongoing research activities at the Department Research at UZB | Universitäres Zentrum für Zahnmedizin Basel and is an associated group at the Department of Biomedicine University of Basel, Switzerland.

The Oral Implantology Lab is generously funded by Dr h.c. Thomas Straumann in the scope of the Stiftungsprofessur Orale Implantologie. We are also grateful to research grants from the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI), University of Basel and the ITI - International Team for Implantology.

Our Team

Prof., PhD
A. Géraldine Guex

Assistant Professor and Group Leader Oral Implantology Lab

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ORCID

 
Birte Bennecke

Administrative Assistant Research 

0041 61 267 26 00
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MSc
Isabelle C. Imhof

PhD candidate

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ORCID

PhD
Lisa A. Krattiger

Postdoctoral Researcher

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MSc
Claudia Hoffmann

Cell Lab Technician

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Med. dent.
Sheryl Hammel

Dr. med. dent. candidate

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Med. Dent.
Lisa Velte

Dr. med. dent. candidate

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Med. dent.
Mara Keller

Dr. med. dent. candidate

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Dipl.-Ing.
Markus Steineck

Engineer, Deputy Lab Manager

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Selected Projects, Grants and Collaborations

Bone regeneration and progenitor cell differentiation

Regenerative medicine and approaches in tissue engineering aim at restoring diseased, damaged or lost tissues. In our field, particular focus lies on alveolar bone augmentation prior to dental implant placement. The choice in material, cell source, and culture conditions is fundamental for successful outcomes.

Of high clinical relevance are adult progenitor or stem cells that a) have the capacity to differentiate into the target tissue and b) can readily be isolated and cultured in vitro. In this project, we isolate human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) from extracted teeth and aim to learn more about this interesting cell source.

Naturally, the main focus lies on investigating their osteogenic potential in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional systems or interfaced with different biomaterials by means of gene expression analysis, fluorescence microscopy, and assays to determine mineralisation. We are curious to investigate differences among donors, which may pave the way for hDPSC as an autologous cell source for alveolar bone augmentation in a patient-specific and application-targeted approach. 

Oral Implantology Bone Regeneration
Funding / Collaborators

Macrophage polarisation and osteoimmunity

The immune system plays a fundamental role during wound healing or osseointegration of dental implants. High bacterial load in the oral cavity, as well as local, sterile inflammations in response to dental materials have been associated with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood stream and concomitant systemic inflammatory diseases.

Macrophages take on a key role in this complex scenario by responding to foreign materials or pathogens, and secreting cytokines to initiate specific cellular responses. In this project we investigate the effect of dental implants on macrophage polarisation and how this affects further downstream events in bone remodelling.

In an ITI funded project in collaboration with Dr Elena Della Bella from the AO Research Institute Davos, we assess the macrophage phenotype based on cytokine secretion, gene expression, and morphology in response to materials of distinct surface topography or chemistry. We strive to understand the crosstalk between macrophages and osteoclast activity or osteogenesis of progenitor cells in order to develop immune-modulatory surfaces for successful osseointegration.  

Funding / Collaborators

Electrospinning and cell material interactions 

We aim to investigate cell-material interactions on the molecular level in order to understand the macroscopic level and suggest new therapeutic approaches in oral implantology. Our goal is to create 3-dimensional synthetic environments to mimic the extracellular matrix and provide biophysical cues for progenitor cell differentiation. In this regard, electrospinning comes forward as a particularly versatile method.

A variety of polymers can be processed, allowing to comply with e.g. mechanical or architectural properties of the tissue of choice. Furthermore, biologically active groups can be tethered to electrospun fibres, thereby acting locally at the point of interest. Governing cell-fate decision by material properties circumvents challenges associated with soluble factors such as fast degradation, off-target effects, and high concentrations.

In a project funded by the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) and in collaboration with Prof. Michael Nash, Molecular Engineering Lab at University of Basel & ETH Zurich, we functionalise electrospun membranes with peptides with the goal of targeting specific integrin-signalling pathways to ultimately steer osteogenesis.

Funding / Collaborators
Publications

2025

Conditioned Media from Mechanically Stimulated Macrophages Upregulate Osteogenic Genes in Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells;
A.G.Guex, U. Menzel, Y. Ladner, A. R. Armiento, M.J. Stoddart, 
Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202500706

Permanent Plasma Surface Functionalization of Internal Surface Areas;
D. Hegemann, M. Janůšová, P. Navascués, L Zajíčková, A.G. Guex
Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400727

Complex in vitro model systems to understand the biointerfaces of dental implants;
L. A. Krattiger and A.G. Guex, Dental Materials, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2025.05.001

An Organ-on-Chip Platform for Strain-Controlled, Tissue-Specific Compression of Cartilage and Mineralized Osteochondral Interface to Study Mechanical Overloading in Osteoarthritis; Mainardi, A., Börsch, A., Occhetta, Ivanek, R., Ehrbar, M., Krattiger, L., Oertle, P., Loparic, M., Martin, I., Rasponi, M., Barbero, A., Advanced Healthcare Materials 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202501588

Cyclic jetting enables microbubble-mediated drug delivery Cattaneo, M., Guerriero, G., Shakya, G., Krattiger, L. A., G. Paganella, L., Narciso, M. L., & Supponen, O., Nature Physics, 20205, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02785-0

2024

Noggin inhibits TGF-β1 OR TGF-β3 induced chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stromal cells
L. Wen, A.R. Armiento, A. G. Guex, S. Grad, L. Creemers, M.J. Stoddart
European Cells and Materials, 2024, https://doi.org/10.22203/eCM

Alumni / Students

Undergraduate Students

Johannes Koch – M Dent Med
Artina Mushkolaj – M Dent Med

Alumni

2025

Mara Keller – M Dent Med

2024

Daniel Gaus – MSc Nanosciences
Anna Savchenko – Research Intern

Open Positions

We are always happy to accommodate curios students for their master thesis and support PhD candidates or postdocs in applying for their own funding with us. 

If you have experience in cell culture, tissue engineering, electrospinning, material functionalisation or related topics, please apply via email (Géraldine Guex) by providing your CV and a short motivation letter / project interest (max 1 A4).