Pedro Rendas , Joana Amorim , Pedro Viana Baptista , Catarina Vidal , Lígia Figueiredo , Alexandra R. Fernandes , Bruno Soares
{"title":"Cytocompatibility, fibroblast adhesion and proliferation on surface modified 3D-printed PEEK scaffolds","authors":"Pedro Rendas , Joana Amorim , Pedro Viana Baptista , Catarina Vidal , Lígia Figueiredo , Alexandra R. Fernandes , Bruno Soares","doi":"10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.106979","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic that, when combined with Additive Manufacturing (AM), presents considerable advantages to produce customizable implantable medical devices. Despite this potential, PEEK's use as an implant material still presents challenges imposed by its bioinert nature. This study investigates the biofunctionalization of 3D-printed PEEK implants to enhance fibroblasts' cellular response due to their important role in the healing of connective tissue post-implantation. Different combinations of biofunctional features were investigated by surface modifying solid, porous, and surface-rough 3D-printed PEEK samples with the sulfonation treatment and incorporation of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles. The porous scaffold construct was designed based on a gyroid surface and then analysed using micro-CT and compression tests. Fibroblast culture assays were conducted to assess the effects of different surface morphologies on cellular adhesion and proliferation. Preliminary data of fibroblast metabolic activity on differently modified PEEK samples was also collected. Results from the experiments suggest that solid PEEK samples with rough surfaces and subjected to both sulfonation and HA incorporation procedures exhibit the most favourable environment for maintaining fibroblasts morphology and viability. Conversely, the lower adhesion and proliferation on smooth as-printed surfaces highlight the necessity for surface functionalization of 3D-printed PEEK. Additionally, results for metabolic activity paired with cell morphologies observed under SEM indicate that large-scale porous scaffolds may present less favourable environment for fibroblasts viability compared to solid surfaces. These findings offer valuable insights to 3D-printed PEEK biofunctionalization towards the improvement of fibroblast response, particularly considering their active role on extracellular matrix formation which is critical for connective tissue support and cohesion during the healing process after surgical implantation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":380,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 106979"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751616125000955","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic that, when combined with Additive Manufacturing (AM), presents considerable advantages to produce customizable implantable medical devices. Despite this potential, PEEK's use as an implant material still presents challenges imposed by its bioinert nature. This study investigates the biofunctionalization of 3D-printed PEEK implants to enhance fibroblasts' cellular response due to their important role in the healing of connective tissue post-implantation. Different combinations of biofunctional features were investigated by surface modifying solid, porous, and surface-rough 3D-printed PEEK samples with the sulfonation treatment and incorporation of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles. The porous scaffold construct was designed based on a gyroid surface and then analysed using micro-CT and compression tests. Fibroblast culture assays were conducted to assess the effects of different surface morphologies on cellular adhesion and proliferation. Preliminary data of fibroblast metabolic activity on differently modified PEEK samples was also collected. Results from the experiments suggest that solid PEEK samples with rough surfaces and subjected to both sulfonation and HA incorporation procedures exhibit the most favourable environment for maintaining fibroblasts morphology and viability. Conversely, the lower adhesion and proliferation on smooth as-printed surfaces highlight the necessity for surface functionalization of 3D-printed PEEK. Additionally, results for metabolic activity paired with cell morphologies observed under SEM indicate that large-scale porous scaffolds may present less favourable environment for fibroblasts viability compared to solid surfaces. These findings offer valuable insights to 3D-printed PEEK biofunctionalization towards the improvement of fibroblast response, particularly considering their active role on extracellular matrix formation which is critical for connective tissue support and cohesion during the healing process after surgical implantation.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials is concerned with the mechanical deformation, damage and failure under applied forces, of biological material (at the tissue, cellular and molecular levels) and of biomaterials, i.e. those materials which are designed to mimic or replace biological materials.
The primary focus of the journal is the synthesis of materials science, biology, and medical and dental science. Reports of fundamental scientific investigations are welcome, as are articles concerned with the practical application of materials in medical devices. Both experimental and theoretical work is of interest; theoretical papers will normally include comparison of predictions with experimental data, though we recognize that this may not always be appropriate. The journal also publishes technical notes concerned with emerging experimental or theoretical techniques, letters to the editor and, by invitation, review articles and papers describing existing techniques for the benefit of an interdisciplinary readership.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
分享
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
扫码关注我们
