Surface-engineered PEEK-HAp composites for osteoblast growth: An initial step toward the development a bone implant material

Abstract

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is an attractive orthopedic polymer due to its excellent mechanical properties and chemical stability, but its bioinert surface limits osseointegration and compromises long-term implant performance. In this study, we engineered a bioactive multilayer PEEK/polymer/inorganic composite by combining surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) with biomimetic mineralization to generate a uniform hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating. Importantly, self-produced, nanostructured PEEK-HAp composites promoted osteoblast adhesion compared with unmodified PEEK, achieving cell viability of ∼1000%. These findings demonstrate that SI-ATRP-derived functional brushes can effectively promote biomimetic apatite formation on PEEK and substantially improve the biological performance of PEEK. This surface modification strategy represents a promising approach for enhancing the bioactivity and clinical potential of PEEK-based orthopedic implant.