(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-12)
Johnson, Allison-Fran
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a thermoplastic polymer with many clinical orthopedic
applications. With an elastic modulus similar to bone, PEEK is a preferred implant model due to
specific mechanical properties. The limitations of PEEK arise from its poor osseointegration
which in a clinical setting may cause implant slippage or dislodgement. Recent methods to
improve the osseointegration of PEEK have involved surface modification, including the
change of surface structure as well as surface chemistry. The purpose of this study is to
characterize various surface structures of PEEK so that their effectiveness at implantation may
be evaluated. Surface porous, soda blasted, and smooth injected molded PEEK as well as
titanium oxide coated PEEK were evaluated for surface roughness using LEXT imaging. These
roughness values will then later be compared with implant integration for each sample. Based
on the optimized surface structure of PEEK, future studies will begin to characterize the optimal
surface coating or surface chemistry for PEEK implants so that the inert properties of PEEK
may be overcome in the clinical setting by surface modification.