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Polyether ether ketone surface modification with plasma and gelatin for enhancing cell attachment.
Maryam Mehdizadeh Omrani1,2, Hitendra Kumar1,3, Mohamed G A Mohamed1
1School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B, Applied Biomaterials
|September 18, 2020
Summary
Modifying polyether ether ketone (PEEK) surfaces with oxygen plasma or gelatin improves cell attachment. Gelatin coating significantly enhanced cell growth, making PEEK a more viable material for bone implants and tissue regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) possesses favorable chemical, mechanical, and biocompatible properties for biomedical applications.
- However, PEEK's bioinert nature leads to poor cell adhesion, limiting its use in bone implants.
- Surface modification is crucial to enhance PEEK's osseointegration and clinical efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of oxygen plasma and gelatin treatments on PEEK surface properties.
- To evaluate the impact of these modifications on cell adhesion and proliferation.
- To determine the potential of enhanced PEEK for bone-related applications.
Main Methods:
- PEEK surfaces were modified using oxygen plasma and gelatin coating.
- Surface roughness was assessed via laser scanning confocal microscopy.
- Wettability was measured using the sessile drop method.
- Cell attachment and proliferation were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and the XTT assay.
Main Results:
- Surface roughness remained consistent across control, plasma-treated, and gelatin-coated PEEK.
- Gelatin-coated PEEK exhibited significantly higher wettability compared to control and plasma-treated samples.
- Cell attachment and proliferation assays demonstrated superior performance on the gelatin-coated PEEK surface.
Conclusions:
- Oxygen plasma and gelatin treatments effectively enhance PEEK surface biocompatibility.
- Gelatin coating is particularly effective in promoting cell adhesion and proliferation on PEEK.
- Modified PEEK holds promise as an improved material for bone implants and treating bone defects.
