Endowing polyetheretherketone with anti-inflammatory ability and improved osteogenic ability

Both osteogenesis and anti-inflammatory bioactive materials play a vital role in the regeneration of skeletal defects. Bone inflammation is hard to cure and can lead to malformation or amputation. The purpose of this study is to use anti-inflammatory drugs to endow polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with the dual ability to achieve anti-inflammatory effects while maintaining favorable biocompatibility. In this experiment, the porous PEEK was immersed in an aspirin (ASP) solution after sulfonation, and the obtained porous PEEK had significantly improved the anti-inflammatory abilities. Additionally, grafting the bone forming peptide (BFP) onto the porous PEEK can distinctly enchance the osteogenesis capability. The effects of the BFP polypeptide on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and ALP activity, and the effects of aspirin on inflammation were systematically investigated. The modified material showed favorable biocompatibility and osteogenic ability. The results suggest that the combination of the BFP polypeptide with aspirin may lead to a synergetic effect on the stimulation of osteogenesis and on the reduction of inflammation.