Bioactive Plasma Sprayed Coatings on Polymer Substrates Suitable for Orthopedic Applications: A Study with PEEK

The use of polymers for orthopedic implants and tissue engineering applications is leading to new frontiers, thanks to some characteristics, such as low specific weight, cost, and performance. In many occasions, it is widely sought for these polymeric devices to support bone ingrowth and to enhance the osseointegration with the remaining bone or tissue structure. Although atmospheric plasma spray is the most widely used technology to apply bioactive coatings and to accomplish these purposes, only a few studies are available regarding plasma sprayed coatings on polymers. The aim of this paper is to present results of experiments concerning bioactive plasma sprayed coatings on polymeric substrates, specifically on poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), a suitable material for orthopedic, and tissue engineering applications. Here, results are presented in terms of macro- and micro-structure analysis by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction as well as physico-chemical stability by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The obtained data indicate a successful deposition of titanium dioxide and hydroxyapatite coatings on PEEK. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of these deposits was evaluated for osteoblast-like cells.