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As a promising implantable material, poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) possesses similar elastic modulus to that of cortical bones yet suffers from bio-inertness and poor osteogenic properties, which limits its application as orthopedic implants. In this work, calcium is introduced onto PEEK surface using calcium plasma immersion ion implantation (Ca-PIII). The results obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirm the modified layer with varying contents of calcium are formed on PEEK surfaces. Water contact angle measurements reveal the increasing hydrophobicity of both Ca-PIII treated surfaces. In vitro cell adhesion, viability assay, alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen secretion analyses disclose improved the adhesion, proliferation, and osteo-differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) on Ca-PIII treated surfaces. The obtained results indicate that PEEK surface with enhanced osteogenic activity can be produced by calcium incorporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon incorporated titania (Si–TiO2) films were prepared on titanium substrates by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIII&D) using filtered Ti and Si cathodic arc sources in oxygen atmosphere. The as-deposited films were further annealed at 400°C, 600°C and 800°C for 2h in air. The microstructure and phase composition of the films were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The hydrophilicity of the film was illustrated using water contact angle measurement and the in vitro bioactivity was evaluated by simulated body fluid immersion test. Pure titania (TiO2) film was also parallelly studied for comparison. The results show that the grain size of TiO2 and Si–TiO2 films increases and their hydrophilicity is enhanced with the increase of annealing temperature, while the Si–TiO2 film exhibits smaller grain and better hydrophilicity than TiO2 film. The bioactivity of the Si–TiO2 film is also better than that of TiO2 film. Moreover, the 600°C-annealed Si–TiO2 film possesses best bioactivity, which is thought to result from the existence of anatase phase and nanoscale grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As an implantable material, carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFRPEEK) possesses an adjustable elastic modulus similar to that of cortical bone and is a prime candidate to replace metallic surgical implants. However, the bioinertness and poor osteogenic properties of CFRPEEK limit its clinical application as orthopedic implants. In this work, titanium ions are introduced energetically into CFRPEEK by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveal the formation of nanopores with the side wall and bottom embedded with ∼20 nm TiO2 nanoparticles on the CFRPEEK surface. Nanoindentation measurements confirm the stability and improved elastic resistance of the structured surfaces. In vitro cell adhesion, viability assay, and real-time PCR analyses disclose enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and osteo-differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs). The multilevel structures on CFRPEEK also exhibit partial antibacterial activity to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Our results indicate that a surface with multifunctional biological properties can be produced by multilevel surface engineering and application of CFRPEEK to orthopedic and dental implants can be broadened and expedited based on this scheme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]