Effect of Surface Modification of PEEK Artificial Phalanx by 3D Printing on its Biological Activity

Objective: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is widely used as an orthopedic implant material owing to its good biocompatibility and mechanical strength; however, PEEK implants are biologically inert, resulting in suboptimal cellular responses after implantation. The aim of this study was enhance the biological activity through sulfonation treatment. Methods: In study, distal phalangeal were customized by fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing technology soaked concentrated sulfuric acid at different times obtain sulfonated (SPEEK). groups divided into five according time follows: 0 min (control group), 1 (group SPEEK1), 2 SPEEK2), 4 SPEEK4), 8 SPEEK8). Then physicochemical characteristics determined SEM, XRD, EDS, etc. co-cultured with stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), then cell proliferation, adhesion, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red staining performed detect biocompatibility, osteogenic SPEEK implants. Results: range could promote formation micropores on surface implants, while slightly affecting composition compression performance Compared control group, hydrophilicity materials not improved Tests for adhesion proliferation SHED indicated that SPEEK2 showed superior biocompatibility. Furthermore, ALP semi-quantitative analysis Alizarin phalanges exhibited significantly stronger than other groups. Conclusions: method presented here provides a promising approach improve bioactivity prepared FDM, providing shred primary evidence support application orthopedics.