Endowing implants surface with enhanced vascularization and osseointegration via presenting triple-functional...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Orthopedic and Dental Implants

Background:

• Titanium implants show good mechanical properties but suffer from low bioactivity, leading to long-term failure.
• Current mono- and bifunctional peptide modifications inadequately regulate cell behavior for osseointegration.
• There is a need for advanced surface modification technologies to improve implant osseointegration and regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a multifunctional peptide-modified implant material for enhanced osseointegration.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of combining cell adhesion, osteogenic, and pro-angiogenic peptides on implant surfaces.
• To assess the efficacy of the novel coating in promoting bone regeneration both in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a multifunctional peptide-modified implant material (MPN@K6) by linking RGD, OGP, and Ang peptides to hexameric lysine on metal-polyphenol coatings.
• Evaluation of the coating's effect on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.
• In vivo assessment of new bone formation in a rat bone defect model.

Main Results:

• The MPN@K6-RGD/OGP/Ang coating significantly enhanced BMSC adhesion, migration, osteogenesis, and mineralization.
• The coating promoted HUVEC adhesion, migration, and vascularization, up-regulating key factors in angiogenesis and osteogenesis.
• In vivo studies showed the trifunctional peptide coating induced 1.5 to 2 times more new bone formation compared to bifunctional coatings.

Conclusions:

• The trifunctional peptide coating demonstrates superior performance at the cellular and in vivo levels compared to bifunctional coatings.
• This synergistic modification strategy effectively promotes early cell migration, osteoblast differentiation, mineralization, and vascularization.
• The developed coating shows significant potential for clinical applications in orthopedic and dental implants due to its mild preparation, safety, and efficacy.