Enhancing PEEK Surface Bioactivity Through Phosphate and Calcium Functionalization

Achieving effective tissue integration depends mainly on the biological performance of polymeric implants. Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is widely used as an implant material; however, its inert nature results in limited biological interactions. Various surface modification techniques have been investigated to enhance its bioactivity and overall biological performance. In this study, the PEEK surface was activated using low-pressure oxygen plasma and functionalized with phosphate and calcium ions. Comprehensive surface characterization by contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) confirmed the effect of plasma and the ionic surface incorporation. The biological response was evaluated through cell viability, adhesion, and proliferation in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and HOS osteoblasts, and the results indicated the efficacy of the surface modifications. Therefore, the proposed treatments provide an efficient strategy to improve the biological performance of PEEK-based implants.