Abstract
Background: The clinical application of carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) implants is limited by their insufficient osteogenic and antibacterial properties.
Objective: To produce Mg2+ and Cu2+ co-substituted bovine bone-derived hydroxyapatite (BHAMgCu) coatings to improve the osteogenic and antibacterial properties of CFR-PEEK implants.
Methods: Three kinds of BHAMgCu powder with varying Mg2+ and Cu2+ ratios were synthesized and their cytotoxic properties were investigated. The BHAMgCu-coated CFR-PEEK (SCP-BHAMgCu) samples were produced with a polydopamine-assisted coating method. The surface characterization and the osteogenic and antibacterial properties of the SCP-BHAMgCu samples were investigated in vitro.
Significant findings: The BHAMgCu powder with 10 % Mg2+ and 5 % Cu2+ ion substitutions showed good cytocompatibility. The SCP-BHAMgCu samples exhibited improved surface roughness with increased hydrophilicity and coating bond strength. The SCP-BHAMgCu samples not only supported adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic activity of Saos-2 cells, but they also exhibited antibacterial properties and significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.