From ROS scavenging to boosted osseointegration: cerium-containing mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles functionalized implants in diabetes

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) around titanium implants under diabetic conditions causes persistent inflammation, leading to poor osseointegration and even implant failure. Surface modification is an effective way to promote ROS clearance, alleviate inflammation, and stimulate bone formation. In this study, a multifunctional coating is fabricated by introducing cerium (Ce)-containing mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (Ce-MBGNs) onto the titanium surface via an electrophoretic deposition method. The incorporation of Ce-MBGNs remarkably improves surface hydrophilicity by increasing the surface areas. The bioactive ions are appropriately released, thereby promoting mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation under diabetic conditions. The conversion between Ce(III) and Ce(IV) endows Ce-MBGNs coating with antioxidative nanoenzymes properties to scavenge diabetes-induced ROS, resulting in macrophage polarization towards the anti-inflammatory phenotype. The therapeutic effect of Ce-MBGNs-modified titanium implants is also verified in diabetic rats by inhibiting inflammatory responses and accelerating early osseointegration. Taken together, the findings reveal that the ROS-scavenging and immunomodulation activity of the Ce-MBGNs coating contributes to enhanced osseointegration, and provides a novel implant surface for diabetic patients.