Introducing Bioactivity to Polyether-Ether-Ketone (PEEK) With Bioactive Glass for use as an Implant Material

Objectives: To introduce bioactivity to polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), an inert polymer, by coating it with bioactive glass, using a grit blasting technique. This will potentially improve the implant material’s osseointegration with bone.
Methods: The preliminary study involved BioMinF glass abrading the length of rectangular PEEK samples (Goodfellow, UK, 20 x 10 x 2 mm3; n=6 per test) either twice or 12 times using the air abrasion instrument (Aquacare) - grit blast technique. Conditions included air abrasion handpiece at a distance of 3 mm, a velocity of 0.5 mm/sec, and either a high pressure of 4 bars or low pressure of 0.5 bars, The samples were then immersed in individual bottles containing tris-buffer solution (10 ml) or simulated body fluid (SBF, 10 ml) for seven days. The samples were characterized using FTIR, XRD and SEM-EDX, before and after abrasion, and after 7 days of immersion. These techniques were also used to analyze BioMinF alone.
Results: BioMinF showed an amorphous structure (XRD). The FTIR of PEEK samples following air abrasion at low pressure with BioMinF and following immersion in both solutions, showed evidence of surface alteration. Air abrading at high pressure showed no evidence of surface alteration. The results of SEM-EDX confirmed that there was glass embedded in the PEEK samples and possible apatite formation at low pressure. Interestingly at high pressure there appeared to be more glass embedded in PEEK’s surface and apatite formation. Peek samples prior to air abrasion and abradin
Conclusions: These interesting results confirmed that air abrading PEEK samples (12 times), at low and high pressure, with bioactive glass particles altered PEEK’s surface. SEM-EDX confirmed that there was glass embedded in the PEEK samples and possible apatite formation.