Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag coating significantly enhances MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, adhesion, and osteogenic differentiation compared to unmodified PEEK. • The composite coating exhibits strong antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. • Incorporation of strontium and silver ions into the polydopamine-hydroxyapatite coating improves hydrophilicity and surface roughness, promoting bioactivity. • The multifunctional coating strategy offers a promising approach to overcome PEEK's bioinertness and infection risk in orthopedic and dental implants.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has insufficient inherent bioactivity, and as a bone implant material, it carries risks of poor osseointegration and implant-related infection. Developing surface modification strategies with both osteogenic and antibacterial functions is of great clinical significance for improving the implantation performance of PEEK. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the biocompatibility, osteogenic and antibacterial effects of PEEK loaded with polydopamine-modified strontium-doped hydroxyapatite-silver composite coating. METHODS: (1) A polydopamine-hydroxyapatite composite coating was prepared on the PEEK surface, denoted as PEEK@PDA-HA. According to the ratios of Sr2+/(Sr2++Ca2+) of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%, polydopamine-strontium-doped hydroxyapatite-silver composite coatings were prepared on the PEEK surface, denoted as PEEK@PDA-HA-Ag, PEEK@PDA-5Sr/HA-Ag, PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag, and PEEK@PDA-20Sr/HA-Ag, respectively. MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with PEEK, PEEK@PDA-HA-Ag, PEEK@PDA-5Sr/HA-Ag, PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag, and PEEK@PDA-20Sr/HA-Ag. The best material was selected for subsequent experiments through cell proliferation, live/dead staining, and adhesion assays. The surface morphology and water contact angle of PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag were characterized. (2) MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded on PEEK, PEEK@PDA-HA, PEEK@PDA-HA-Ag, and PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag surfaces. After osteogenic induction, alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining, and osteocalcin immunofluorescence staining were performed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation performance of the materials. (3) Escherichia coli (or Staphylococcus aureus) were co-cultured with PEEK, PEEK@PDA-HA, PEEK@PDA-HA-Ag, and PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag. The antibacterial properties were evaluated by agar plate counting and bacterial live/dead staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Cell proliferation, live/dead staining, and adhesion assays showed that PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag had the best effect on promoting MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, and the cells adhered on the material surface exhibited good morphology with many filopodia, making it suitable for subsequent experiments. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a rough and uneven surface of PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag with numerous spherical nanoparticle aggregates. Compared with PEEK, the water contact angle of PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag decreased, indicating enhanced hydrophilicity. (2) Alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining, and osteocalcin immunofluorescence staining showed that PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag had the strongest osteogenic effect. (3) Bacterial plate counting and live/dead staining showed that compared with the other three groups, PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. (4) These results indicate that PEEK loaded with polydopamine-modified strontium-doped hydroxyapatite-silver composite coating has good biocompatibility, osteogenic and antibacterial effects.
1. Introduction
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a semi-crystalline polymer composed of repeating units of single ketone and double ether bonds in the main chain. It has attracted much attention due to its excellent biocompatibility, natural light transmittance, and elastic modulus close to human bone [1]. In recent years, PEEK has been increasingly used as an alternative to titanium and its alloys in biomedical fields such as dental implants and total joint replacement [2-3]. However, PEEK is an inert material with low surface free energy and high hydrophobicity [4], which is unfavorable for cell adhesion and osseointegration when used as a bone implant material. This lack of bioactivity, along with potential risks of poor osseointegration and implant-related infection, limits the clinical application of PEEK. Therefore, developing surface modification strategies that combine osteogenic and antibacterial functions is of great clinical significance for improving the implantation performance of PEEK.
Current surface modification strategies for PEEK mainly include physical activation (e.g., plasma treatment, laser etching), chemical grafting (e.g., sulfonation, phosphorylation), and bioactive coatings [5]. In recent years, the introduction of bioactive ions (such as magnesium [6], strontium [7-8], manganese [9], zinc [8], and silver [10]) has become a research hotspot. However, single-ion modification faces significant challenges in achieving both osteogenesis and antibacterial activity simultaneously.
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ZHANG Huifang, LI Hankai, HUANG Haozhe, LIU Min, WANG Pin, HUANG Haixia, SUN Libo, LAN Yuyan (2026). Osteogenic and antibacterial properties of polyether ether ketone modified by multifunctional composite coating. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research. https://doi.org/10.12307/2026.21445
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main problem with PEEK as a bone implant material?
PEEK has insufficient inherent bioactivity, leading to poor osseointegration and a risk of implant-related infection, which limits its clinical application.
How was the PEEK surface modified in this study?
The PEEK surface was modified with a polydopamine-mediated strontium-doped hydroxyapatite-silver composite coating, creating a multifunctional surface with enhanced osteogenic and antibacterial properties.
What were the key findings regarding the biocompatibility of the modified PEEK?
The modified PEEK, especially PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag, showed improved MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, adhesion, and morphology, along with increased hydrophilicity, indicating good biocompatibility.
Did the modified PEEK exhibit antibacterial activity?
Yes, the PEEK@PDA-10Sr/HA-Ag coating effectively inhibited the growth of both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating strong antibacterial activity.
What is the significance of this study for clinical applications?
This study provides a promising surface modification strategy for PEEK implants, potentially improving osseointegration and reducing infection risk, which could enhance the performance and longevity of PEEK-based implants in orthopedic and dental applications.
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