title: An in vitro investigation of bacteria-osteoblast competition on oxygen plasma-modified PEEK.
abstract: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) films were oxygen plasma treated to increase surface free energy and characterized by X-ray photoelectron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and water contact angles. A parallel plate flow chamber was used to measure Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and U-2 OS osteosarcomal cell-line adhesion to the PEEK films in separate monocultures. In addition, bacteria and U-2 OS cells were cocultured to model competition between osteoblasts and contaminating bacteria for the test surfaces. Plasma treatment of the surfaces increased surface oxygen content and decreased the hydrophobicity of the materials, but did not lead to a significant difference in bacterial or U-2 OS cell adhesion in the monocultures. In the S. epidermidis coculture experiments, the U-2 OS cells adhered in greater numbers on the treated surfaces compared to the untreated PEEK and spread to a similar extent. However, in the presence of S. aureus, cell death of the U-2 OS occurred within 10 h on all surfaces. The results of this study suggest that oxygen plasma treatment of PEEK may maintain the ability of osteoblast-like cells to adhere and spread, even in the presence of S. epidermidis contamination, without increasing the risk of preoperative bacterial adhesion. Therefore, oxygen plasma-treated PEEK remains a promising method to improve implant surface free energy for osseointegration.
authors.affiliation: AO Research Institute Davos, 7270 Davos, Switzerland; Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Edward T J
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Rochford
authors.forename: Guruprakash
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Subbiahdoss
authors.forename: T Fintan
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.forename: Alexandra H C
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Poulsson
authors.forename: Henny C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van der Mei
authors.forename: Henk J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Busscher
authors.forename: R Geoff
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D001577:Benzophenones; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011108:Polymers; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: PEEK; Staphylococcus; bacterial adhesion; biomaterial-associated infections; coculture; osteoblasts; plasma treatment; surface modification