PEEK (Polyether-ether-ketone) and its composite materials in orthopedic implantation

Large bone defects caused by tumors and traumas are difficult clinical problems. For its treatment, autogenous bone transplantation is the “gold standard”. However, there are some shortcomings of this treatment, such as limited supply and extra trauma from bone removal. In recent years, orthopedic implants and bone tissue engineering materials have developed rapidly, adding impetus to the solution of this problem. At present, the main orthopedic implants include medical metal materials, medical polymer materials, bone cement, ceramic materials, artificial bone materials, etc. Among which medical polymer materials have become the research hotspot and achieved outstanding results in recent years, especially the in-depth study of polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) materials has great promising to solve this medical problem. PEEK materials have the advantages of non-toxicity, high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, high strength, high toughness, X-ray radiolucency, and excellent sterilization performance. PEEK materials have been successfully applied in clinical practice and have achieved excellent clinical efficacy and wide recognition. This review overviews the research progress of the performance requirements, material development, and material surface modification of PEEK as an orthopedic implant, and discusses prospects for the advance of medical PEEK materials.