Abstract
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a semi-crystalline polymer with outstanding mechanical properties, bone-like
stiffness and suitable biocompatibility that has attracted much interest as a biomaterial for dental implants.
However, the bio-inert surface of the PEEK limits its medical applications when direct osteintegration between
the implants and the host tissue. In this work, we fabricated hydroxyapatite (HA) thin films on a PEEK substrate
with a titanium (Ti) intermediate layer using a sputtering to improve adhesion strength of the HA film
to the PEEK. The HA film was not coated without the Ti intermediate layer, whereas the HA films with the Ti
intermediate layer was successfully fabricated on the PEEK regardless of the thickness of the Ti intermediate
layers. The HA films with 5 and 10 nm Ti intermediated layer have transparency. In the cell culture, the bone
formation area on the HA film with 100 nm Ti intermediated layer was larger than that on the HA film with 5
nm Ti intermediated layer.
