Surface‐Engineered Orthopedic Implant to Break the Antimicrobial‐Osteogenic Paradox at Biointerfaces in the “Race for the Surface”

M Meizhou Sun (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China) C Chi Xu (Department of Dental Implant Center, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, No. 9 Fanjiacun Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100070, China) R Ruonan Wu (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China) Q Qian Yang X Xiaokang Ding (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China) N Nana Zhao (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China) W Wei Geng (College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymer Materials) Y Yujie Sun (Department of Chemistry) S Shun Duan (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China) F Fu‐Jian Xu (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education), Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing 100029 China)

Abstract

Abstract Implant‐associated infections and compromised osseointegration pose a dual threat to bone implants due to the biological conflict between microbial invasion and host cell colonization. However, conventional contact‐killing antimicrobial coatings may negatively affect the viability of mammalian cells, limiting their further application. Here, a surface modification strategy is proposed to help mammalian cells to win the “race for the surface” on the material‐tissue interfaces. Through polyphenol‐amine‐mediated covalent modification, quaternary ammonium groups (bactericidal agents) and phosphate groups (promoting bone‐regeneration factors) are spatially organized on titanium (Ti) surfaces to regulate the surface chemical characteristics of dental implants. The surface‐engineered implants (Ti‐AQs) exhibited balanced antibacterial and biocompatible properties. The optimized Ti‐AQ‐2 coating eradicated >99% of Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) and Escherichia coli ( E. coli) via destruction of disrupted bacterial membranes through metabolic interference, and simultaneously promoted adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through Ca 2+ ‐mediated signaling pathways. Moreover, Ti‐AQs can drive immunomodulation biased macrophages toward pro‐repair M2 polarization. In vivo evaluations in an implant‐associated infection modal confirmed that Ti‐AQ‐2 inhibited infection at the early stage and enhanced bone‐implant integration at the late stage. This work presents a facile strategy to regulate the surface performances for developing of antibacterial implants with high biocompatibility and bioactivity.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 37, Issue 37
Published September 01, 2025
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

M

Meizhou Sun

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China

C

Chi Xu

Department of Dental Implant Center, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, No. 9 Fanjiacun Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100070, China

R

Ruonan Wu

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China

Q

Qian Yang

X

Xiaokang Ding

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China

N

Nana Zhao

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China

W

Wei Geng

College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymer Materials

Y

Yujie Sun

Department of Chemistry

S

Shun Duan

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing 100029, China

F

Fu‐Jian Xu

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education), Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing 100029 China