Background/Objective

TiCu/TiCuN is a multilayer composite coating comprising TiN and Cu, which provides excellent wear resistance and antibacterial properties. However, its applicability as a functional coating has not been widely realised, and several aspects pertaining to its properties must still be explored.

Methods

This study uses arc ion-plating technology to apply a TiCu/TiCuN coating on the surface of carbon fibre-reinforced (CFR) polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material.The safety and osteogenic activity of TiCu/TiCuN-coated CFR-PEEK materials were explored through cell experiments and animal experiments, and the molecules behind them were verified.

Results

The new material exhibits improved mechanical compatibility (mechanical strength and elastic modulus) and superior light transmittance (elimination of metal artifacts and ray refraction during radiology and radiotherapy). The proposed implant delivers excellent biocompatibility for mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and it exhibits excellent osteogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, it was determined that the applied TiCu/TiCuN coating aids in upregulating the expression of angiogenesis-related signals (i.e., cluster-of-differentiation 31, α-smooth muscle actin, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) to promote neovascularisation, which is significant for characterising the mechanism of the coating in promoting bone regeneration.

Conclusion

The current results reveal that the TiCu/TiCuN-coated CFR-PEEK implants may emerge as an advanced generation of orthopaedic implants.

Translational potential statement

The results of this study indicate that TiCu/TiCuN coating-modified CFR-PEEK materials can promote bone repair through angiogenesis and have broad clinical translation prospects.

中文翻译：

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机械适应 TiCu/TiCuN/CFR-PEEK 植入物在血管再生中促进体外和体内骨修复的中介作用

背景/目标

TiCu/TiCuN 是一种由 TiN 和 Cu 组成的多层复合涂层，具有优异的耐磨性和抗菌性。然而，它作为功能涂层的适用性尚未得到广泛实现，与其性能有关的几个方面仍有待探索。

方法

本研究采用电弧离子镀技术在碳纤维增强 (CFR) 聚醚醚酮 (PEEK) 材料表面涂覆 TiCu/TiCuN 涂层。细胞实验和动物实验，并验证了它们背后的分子。

结果

这种新材料表现出改进的机械相容性（机械强度和弹性模量）和卓越的透光率（在放射和放射治疗过程中消除了金属伪影和射线折射）。所提出的植入物为间充质干细胞和人脐静脉内皮细胞 (HUVECs) 提供了出色的生物相容性，并且在体外和体内均表现出出色的成骨活性. 此外，已确定所应用的 TiCu/TiCuN 涂层有助于上调血管生成相关信号（即分化簇 31、α-平滑肌肌动蛋白、血管内皮生长因子受体和缺氧诱导因子）的表达。 1α）促进新血管形成，这对于表征涂层促进骨再生的机制具有重要意义。

结论

目前的结果表明，TiCu/TiCuN 涂层的 CFR-PEEK 植入物可能会作为先进的骨科植入物出现。

翻译潜力陈述

本研究结果表明TiCu/TiCuN涂层改性CFR-PEEK材料可通过血管生成促进骨修复，具有广阔的临床转化前景。