Ufuk Gürer

Master student

Development and characterization of functionalized PEEK for orthopedic applications

 

Supervisors: Zhiyan Xu, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a promising polymer candidate for replacing metallic implant components in the field of load-bearing orthopedic applications due to its excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and chemical stability [1,2]. However, PEEK is naturally bioinert and thus the lack of osseointegration properties limits the biological fixation in bone tissue and long-term stability in vivo. Bioactive glasses (BGs) [2] exhibit bioactivity and cytocompatibility, which can further promote bone regeneration and osseointegration. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is one of the production techniques that allows to achieve wide range of coatings as well as bulk PEEK structures from their suspensions [3]. In this study, BGs will be explored to functionalize the PEEK surface to improve PEEK bioactivity by EPD technology.

[1] Yu X. et al., (2018). Bioact. Mater. 3 (2), 139-143.

[2] Seuss S. et al., (2016) Surf. Coat. Tech. 301, 100–105.

[3] Ivekovic A., et al., (2015). J. Mater. Process. Techol. 223, 58–64.