An Ion-Based Strategy Toward Synergistic Surface Functionalization Combining the Osteogenic Properties and NIR-Mediated Antibacterial Activity of PEEK

Xu Z, Adam O, Doubrava M, Beltrán AM, Dlouhý I, Liu X, Sui B, Boccaccini AR (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Advanced Materials Wiley

DOI: 10.1002/adma.73945

Abstract

Persistent implant-associated infections critically compromise the longevity and success of orthopedic prostheses. Herein, we present a facile surface-engineering strategy to construct a multifunctional PEEK-based implant by introducing manganese-chelated polydopamine (Mn@p) and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) onto sulfonated PEEK (SPEEK). The resulting Mn@p/MBG-SPEEK exhibits a hierarchically porous three-dimensional architecture with markedly enhanced hydrophilicity and surface roughness. This tailored interface shows in vitro bioactivity and cytocompatibility, significantly promoting the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells through the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and AP-1 signaling pathways, as evidenced by the upregulation of ALP, OCN, OPN, and Runx2 expression. Meanwhile, the pro-angiogenic potential of Mn@p/MBG-SPEEK is supported by the upregulation of VEGF and CD31 in HUVECs and enhanced capillary-like network formation. Notably, Mn@p/MBG-SPEEK demonstrates efficient light-to-heat conversion and potent antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further reveal that Mn chelation narrows the HOMO-LUMO energy gap and facilitates charge separation, thereby amplifying photothermal and ROS-mediated antibacterial effects. Collectively, this study establishes a versatile and scalable route to enhance the biological performance of PEEK implants, offering a conceptual framework for integrating ion-assisted therapy with phototherapy toward next-generation bioactive and infection-resistant orthopedic materials.

Authors with CRIS profile

Zhiyan Xu Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien) Aldo Boccaccini Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien)

Involved external institutions

University of Seville / Universidad de Sevilla ES Spain (ES) Brno University of Technology (BUT) / Vysoké učení technické v Brně (VUT) CZ Czech Republic (CZ) Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (Bethel Hospital) CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Xu, Z., Adam, O., Doubrava, M., Beltrán, A.M., Dlouhý, I., Liu, X.,... Boccaccini, A.R. (2026). An Ion-Based Strategy Toward Synergistic Surface Functionalization Combining the Osteogenic Properties and NIR-Mediated Antibacterial Activity of PEEK. Advanced Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.73945

MLA:

Xu, Zhiyan, et al. "An Ion-Based Strategy Toward Synergistic Surface Functionalization Combining the Osteogenic Properties and NIR-Mediated Antibacterial Activity of PEEK." Advanced Materials (2026).

BibTeX: Download