Objectives:Spinal fusion is a widely employed treatment of patients with degenerative disc disease,in which a cage is used to replace the disc for spinal fusion.But it often fails for insufficient mechanical strength ...Objectives:Spinal fusion is a widely employed treatment of patients with degenerative disc disease,in which a cage is used to replace the disc for spinal fusion.But it often fails for insufficient mechanical strength and poor osseointegration.Here,we designed a polyether-ether-ketone(PEEK)/tantalum(Ta)composite cage with a biomimetic gradient porous micro-structure,simultaneously enhancing mechanical properties and accelerating osseointegration in spinal fusion.Materials and methods:In the study,based on the mechanical performances of PEEK and osteogenic potential of Ta,and the three-dimensional(3D)structures of cuttlebone and vertebra,the cages were respectively 3D printed by pure PEEK,PEEK with 5 wt%Ta(PEEK/Ta-5),PEEK with 10 wt%Ta(PEEK/Ta-10)and PEEK with 15 wt%Ta(PEEK/Ta-15),then verified<i>in vitro</i>and in sheep cervical fusion model systematically.Results:Vertebral Gyroid structure PEEK/Ta-15 cage exhibited superior mechanical properties than Cuttlebone-like structure PEEK/Ta-15 cage,closer to the cervical vertebra.Furthermore,PEEK/Ta-15 cage with higher Ta microparticles in PEEK provided a biomimetic gradient porous micro-structure with higher surface energy,guiding cell biological behavior,promoting new bone penetration,and accelerating osseointegration<i>in vivo</i>.Conclusion:In conclusion,the study designed a biomimetic gradient porous cage with a micro-structure for enhancing mechanical properties,accelerating osseointegration and forming an anatomical lock in the fusion segment through composites,mechanical efficiency,surface extension,and pores.展开更多
文摘Objectives:Spinal fusion is a widely employed treatment of patients with degenerative disc disease,in which a cage is used to replace the disc for spinal fusion.But it often fails for insufficient mechanical strength and poor osseointegration.Here,we designed a polyether-ether-ketone(PEEK)/tantalum(Ta)composite cage with a biomimetic gradient porous micro-structure,simultaneously enhancing mechanical properties and accelerating osseointegration in spinal fusion.Materials and methods:In the study,based on the mechanical performances of PEEK and osteogenic potential of Ta,and the three-dimensional(3D)structures of cuttlebone and vertebra,the cages were respectively 3D printed by pure PEEK,PEEK with 5 wt%Ta(PEEK/Ta-5),PEEK with 10 wt%Ta(PEEK/Ta-10)and PEEK with 15 wt%Ta(PEEK/Ta-15),then verified<i>in vitro</i>and in sheep cervical fusion model systematically.Results:Vertebral Gyroid structure PEEK/Ta-15 cage exhibited superior mechanical properties than Cuttlebone-like structure PEEK/Ta-15 cage,closer to the cervical vertebra.Furthermore,PEEK/Ta-15 cage with higher Ta microparticles in PEEK provided a biomimetic gradient porous micro-structure with higher surface energy,guiding cell biological behavior,promoting new bone penetration,and accelerating osseointegration<i>in vivo</i>.Conclusion:In conclusion,the study designed a biomimetic gradient porous cage with a micro-structure for enhancing mechanical properties,accelerating osseointegration and forming an anatomical lock in the fusion segment through composites,mechanical efficiency,surface extension,and pores.
