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Abstract
The surface of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) was coated with a pure titanium (Ti) layer
using an electron beam (e-beam) deposition method in order to enhance its biocompatibility
and adhesion to bone tissue. The e-beam deposition method was a low-temperature coating
process that formed a dense, uniform and well crystallized Ti layer without deteriorating
the characteristics of the PEEK implant. The Ti coating layer strongly adhered to
the substrate and remarkably enhanced its wettability. The Ti-coated samples were
evaluated in terms of their in vitro cellular behaviors and in vivo osteointegration,
and the results were compared to a pure PEEK substrate. The level of proliferation
of the cells (MC3T3-E1) was measured using a methoxyphenyl tetrazolium salt (MTS)
assay and more than doubled after the Ti coating. The differentiation level of cells
was measured using the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay and also doubled. Furthermore,
the in vivo animal tests showed that the Ti-coated PEEK implants had a much higher
bone-in-contact (BIC) ratio than the pure PEEK implants. These in vitro and in vivo
results suggested that the e-beam deposited Ti coating significantly improved the
potential of PEEK for hard tissue applications.
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