Abstract
Demands of bone regeneration and fracture repairing technologies have become increasingly important due to aged society and limitation of autologous bone graft. Heterogeneous implants are always employed in clinical treatments but their antibacterial properties, biocompatibilities, and the mismatch elastic moduli with human bones have to be improved. Therefore, polyetheretherketone (PEEK)/ hydroxyapatite (HA) rod-like array samples were manufactured using hydrothermal method and then directly attached various types of Ampicillin, Vancomycin salts and their mixture onto HA arrays in order to improve their antibacterial properties and biocompatibility. Various ratios of ethylenediaminetetraacetic agent : calcium ions in the solution baths were set in order to obtain high values of specific area of HA rods for the loading of antibiotics. The specific surface area of the sample prepared with ethylenediaminetetraacetic agent : calcium ions ratio of 1:1 in solution bath showed the largest value. Samples through direct absorption of antibiotics can maintain their antibacterial activities up to 10 days. Sample (C) (direct absorption of Ampicillin + Vancomycin salt solution (w/w = 50/50)) showed good inhibition activities on E. coli and S. aureus. Cell growth activity of MC3T3-E1 onto the PEEK/HA/antibiotic samples also showed better performance than that of HA/PEEK sample, suggesting potential good application in polymer-made implants.