Design and development of titanium-coated implants with advanced antioxidant properties for enhanced regenerative repair of diabetic bone

The aging population is closely associated with chronic metabolic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and other metabolic disorders. Metabolic dysfunction is a primary characteristic of diabetic patients, which can impair cellular response to insulin and lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hindering bone healing. Therefore, the development of multifunctional titanium (Ti) implants with the ability to eliminate reactive oxygen and promote bone formation is the optimal strategy to address this issue. In this study, we designed a thioctic acid(Ta) coating loaded with strontium(Sr), forming a strong bond with the Ti implant (Ti-Ta@Sr). During treatment, sulfuric acid demonstrated the ability to release monomers in the early stages, effectively eliminating excess reactive oxygen produced in high-glucose environments and regulating the diabetic microenvironment. The delayed in-situ release of strontium ions also enhanced osteogenic differentiation efficiency. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that Ti-Ta@Sr significantly restored the osteogenic capacity and proliferation of osteoblasts under high-glucose conditions. These advantages make Ti-Ta@Sr a promising candidate material for orthopedic implants, suitable for repairing bone defects in diabetic patients.