Bone Implants with Promoted Antibacterial and Osteointegration Performances via a One‐Step Surface‐Bioactivation Strategy Based on Polyphenol‐Amine Chemistry

Abstract Implant‐associated infections are the most critical threat to orthopedic surgeries. Various surface‐modification strategies are developed to impart antibacterial properties and osteogenesis‐promoting abilities to the surfaces of implants. Nevertheless, a straightforward strategy for constructing a functional, stable, bioactive implant surface remains challenging. Here, a facile one‐step surface‐bioactivation method is developed that enhances both the anti‐infection capabilities and osteointegration performance of implants. This approach utilized a kind of coating that integrates antibacterial agents and osteogenesis‐promoting components directly onto the surface of titanium implants. The cationic antibacterial agent and the bone‐adhesion‐enhancing peptide are covalently attached via a Michael reaction to poly (tannic acid) (PTA) to create dual‐functional implants (Ti‐PR). The Ti‐PR surface effectively eliminated more than 99% of the common pathogenic bacteria and significantly enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro. The cell‐bacteria competitive culture assay on the Ti‐PR surface confirms its bactericidal and cell proliferation‐promoting properties. Additionally, RNA‐Seq analysis indicated that PI3K/Akt pathways played a crucial role in enhancing osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. The superior anti‐infection and osteogenesis performances are confirmed in an implant‐related bone infection model in vivo. This study provided an efficient one‐step strategy for the design and production of innovative multifunctional implants.