Preparation and in vitro Osteogenic Activity Evaluation of Mn/nHA Coated CF/PEEK Composite

doi:10.15541/jim20250078

Abstract

Abstract:

Carbon fiber/polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) has been widely used in the field of bone repair. However, its bio-inert nature results in poor osseointegration, which significantly limits its long-term stability and bone repair efficacy in clinical applications. Here, a manganese-doped nano-hydroxyapatite (Mn/nHA) coating was constructed on the surface of CF/PEEK using a liquid-phase self-assembly strategy of inorganic nanoparticles. The experimental results demonstrated that both Mn/nHA and nHA coatings significantly improved the surface roughness and hydrophilicity of CF/PEEK. Further in vitro studies revealed that after co-culturing with rat mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for 7 d, the relative cell viability of the Mn/nHA- and nHA-coated materials reached as high as 180% and 159%, respectively, indicating a pronounced pro-proliferative effect. Additionally, alizarin red staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that both coatings enhanced cell mineralization and osteogenic differentiation on the material surface, with the Mn/nHA coating exhibiting a stronger promoting effect.

Key words: hydroxyapatite, manganese, carbon fiber/polyetheretherketone, osteogenic activity

CLC Number:

R318

LI Zhenghao, LI Jingming, ZHANG Yuxiang, YUAN Bo, ZHANG Kai, ZHU Xiangdong. Preparation and in vitro Osteogenic Activity Evaluation of Mn/nHA Coated CF/PEEK Composite[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(10): 1145-1152.

Figures/Tables 11

Table 1 Primers utilized for RT-PCR amplification

For GAPDH
F: 5ʹ-GGCACAGTCAAGGCTGAGAATG-3ʹ R: 5ʹ-ATGGTGGTGAAGACGCCAGTA-3ʹ
For BMP
F: 5ʹ-TGACTGGATCGTGGCACCTC-3ʹ R: 5ʹ-CAGAGTCTGCACTATGGCATGGTTA-3ʹ
For OPG
F: 5ʹ-AACCGCACCCACAACCGA-3ʹ R: 5ʹ-CACCTGAGAAGAACCCATCCG-3ʹ
For RUNX-2
F: 5ʹ-TGGCCGGGAATGATGAGAAC-3ʹ R: 5ʹ-TTGAACCTGGCCACTTGGTT-3ʹ
For OCN
F: 5ʹ-TCTGAGTCTGACAAAGCCTTCAT-3ʹ R: 5ʹ-AAGTCCATTGTTGAGGTAGCG-3ʹ
For ALP
F: 5ʹ-CATCGCCTATCAGCTAATGCACA-3ʹ R: 5ʹ-ATGAGGTCCAGGCCATCCAG-3ʹ
For BSP
F: 5ʹ-GACCAGTTATGGCACCACGA-3ʹ R: 5ʹ-CGCAGTGTTGTACTCGTTGC-3ʹ

Fig. 1 SEM images for surface morphology of various material samples (a, d) CF/PEEK; (b, e) nHA-CF/PEEK; (c, f) 5%Mn/nHA-CF/PEEK

Fig. 2 AFM images (a-f) and roughness (g) for surface topographies of CF/PEEK (a, d), nHA-CF/PEEK (b, e) and 5%Mn/ nHA-CF/PEEK (c, f) (a-c) 3D images; (d-f) 2D images; (g) Roughness

Fig. 3 Water contact angles of CF/PEEK, nHA-CF/PEEK and 5%Mn/nHA-CF/PEEK

Fig. 4 FT-IR spectra of nHA and 5%Mn/nHA coated on CF/PEEK samples

Fig. 5 XRD patterns of nHA and 5%Mn/nHA coated on CF/PEKK samples

Fig. 6 XPS spectra of nHA and 5%Mn/nHA coated on CF/PEKK samples (a) XPS full spectra; (b) Mn, (c) P and (d) Ca element valence analyses

Table 2 Elemental composition of the surface coating (in atom)

Sample	O/%	Ca/%	P/%	Mn/%
nHA	63.96±2.55	21.38±1.24	14.67±1.22	-
5%Mn/nHA	69.41±3.15	17.05±1.74	12.36±1.24	1.18±0.15

Fig. 7 BMSCs growth and proliferation on CF/PEEK, nHA-CF/PEEK and 5%Mn/nHA-CF/PEEK after culturing for 1, 4 and 7 d (a) CLSM images; (b) MTT analysis. Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 8 BMSCs mineralization ability on SCF/PEEK, nHA-CF/ PEEK and 5%Mn/nHA-CF/PEEK after culturing for 4, 7 and 14 d (a) Alizarin red stained images; (b) Semi-quantitative analysis. Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 9 Osteogenic gene expressions of BMSCs cultured on CF/PEEK, nHA-CF/PEEK and 5%Mn/nHA-CF/PEEK for 4 d

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