Additive manufacturing of silicon nitride fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone composites with enhanced mechanical strength and multifunctional bioactivity for load-bearing bone defect repair
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is increasingly applied in bone defect repair due to its excellent biocompatibility and absence of artifact formation. However, the bio-inertness and inadequate mechanical properties of untreated PEEK remain significant challenges for PEEK-based implants. Hence, this study prepares a series of silicon nitride (Si3N4) fiber-reinforced PEEK composite porous scaffolds using twin-screw melt mixing-extrusion and material extrusion 3D printing. Comprehensive evaluations assess the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, osteogenic differentiation, angiogenesis activities, and antibacterial performances of various composites. Characterization results show that Si3N4 fiber-reinforced PEEK composites exhibit excellent printability, with well-oriented Si3N4 fibers uniformly distributed throughout the matrix. Furthermore, compared to non-reinforced PEEK, the addition of 8% Si3N4 fibers enhanced Young’s modulus by 52.2% (6.36 GPa). Additionally, both in vitro and in vivo results indicate that all composite scaffolds exhibit excellent biocompatibility. Notably, the 8% Si3N4 fiber-reinforced PEEK composite demonstrated optimal multifunctional performance in osteogenic induction, angiogenic capacity, and antibacterial efficacy, significantly outperforming other experimental groups. In conclusion, this study offers a solution for enhancing the mechanical, anti-infective, and osseointegrative properties of PEEK, demonstrating its great potential for expanding the application of non-metallic orthopedic implants in bone defect repair.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Bone Tissue Engineering Materials · Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies · Graphene and Nanomaterials Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
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