Electrospun PEO-based composite coatings containing three varieties of nano-hydroxyapatite for titanium implants: A multifunctional approach to enhancing osteointegration and antibacterial activity

GÜMÜŞDERELİOĞLU M., ŞİMŞEK M., Kalelioğlu D., ÇAKMAK A. S., Coşkun S., Sana F.

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, vol.732, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 732
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.139164
  • Journal Name: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, EMBASE, INSPEC
  • Keywords: Boron, Electrospinning, Hydroxyapatite, Implant material, Poly (ethylene oxide), Simulated body fluid, Surface coating, Titanium
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Effective osseointegration and infection prevention remain critical challenges for metallic implants. In this study, we developed a facile and dual-functional coating strategy by electrospun poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) fibers incorporated with nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) particles onto pretreated titanium (Ti) surfaces. The HA particles were synthesized via biomimetic precipitation from concentrated simulated body fluid (10 × SBF) under three different conditions: (i) at room temperature (R-HA), (ii) using microwave energy (M-HA), and (iii) in the presence of boric acid (B-HA). Crosslinking with pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) under UV irradiation ensured stable fiber coatings. In vitro analyses using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts and Staphylococcus epidermidis (both biofilm-forming and non-forming strains) strains revealed that while pristine PEO reduced cell attachment, HA incorporation restored proliferation and enhanced osteogenic differentiation, with B-HA showing the highest osteogenic marker expression. Meanwhile, R-HA/PEO coatings exhibited the strongest anti-adhesive effect against bacterial colonization. These results demonstrate that the combination of electrospun PEO fibers with HA—particularly boron-substituted HA—provides a synergistic approach to simultaneously promote bone integration and inhibit bacterial adhesion. This work lays the groundwork for developing smart, long-term implant coatings and highlights the potential for future in vivo studies to validate extended clinical efficacy.