Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is considered as a potential orthopedic material due to the excellent mechanical properties and chemical resistance, but its biological inertness hampers the further clinical application. In this study,...
Poly(etheretherketone)
(PEEK) is regarded as an attractive orthopedic
material because of its good biocompatibility and mechanical properties
similar to natural bone. The efficient activation methods for the
surfaces of PEEK matrix materials have become a hot research topic.
In this study, a method using a femtosecond laser (FSL) followed by
hydroxylation was developed to achieve efficient bioactivity. It produces
microstructures, amorphous carbon, and grafted −OH groups on
the PEEK surface to enhance hydrophilicity and surface energy. Both
experimental and simulation results show that our modification leads
to a superior ability to induce apatite deposition on the PEEK surface.
The results also demonstrate that efficient grafting of C–OH
through FSL–hydroxylation can effectively enhance cell proliferation
and osteogenic differentiation compared to other modifications, thus
improving osteogenic activity. Overall, FSL hydroxylation treatment
is proved to be a simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly
modification method for PEEK activation. It could expand the applications
of PEEK in orthopedics, as well as promote the surface modification
and structural design of other polymeric biomaterials to enhance bioactivity.
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