Promoting implant osseointegration via the osteoblast-selective β-amino acid polymer strategy

Qi Chen, Jiawei Gu, Haodong Zhang, Donghui Zhang, Yuwen Wang, Guojian Liu, Xiang Zhu, Xinyue Zhang, Chuntao Cao, Yuan Yuan and Runhui Liu ()
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Qi Chen: East China University of Science and Technology
Jiawei Gu: East China University of Science and Technology
Haodong Zhang: East China University of Science and Technology
Donghui Zhang: East China University of Science and Technology
Yuwen Wang: East China University of Science and Technology
Guojian Liu: East China University of Science and Technology
Xiang Zhu: East China University of Science and Technology
Xinyue Zhang: East China University of Science and Technology
Chuntao Cao: East China University of Science and Technology
Yuan Yuan: East China University of Science and Technology
Runhui Liu: East China University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Osseointegration for implants, especially bioinert implants, poses significant clinical challenges. Overcoming fibrotic encapsulation and promoting osseointegration at the implant interface are critical for successful bone repair, which highly expected biomaterials with osteoblast over fibroblast selectivity. However, few materials possess the function. β-amino acid polymers have demonstrated cell adhesion property, easy preparation, and robust stability to resist proteolysis as emerging biomaterials. Here, we develop amphiphilic β-amino acid polymers that demonstrate exceptional osteoblast vs fibroblast selectivity, outperforming the natural osteoblast-selective KRSR peptide. The optimal polymer selectively supports osteoblast adhesion by manipulating the adsorption of serum proteins and the presentation of RGD motifs on polymer-modified surfaces. In vivo study using polymer-modified titanium-implants in female rat maxillary bone reveals that the optimal polymer substantially promotes osseointegration of titanium-implants compared to uncoated titanium-implants, which tend to develop fibrous encapsulation. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of our strategy in designing osteoblast-selective biomaterials and implies the promising application of β-amino acid polymer as emerging osteoblast-selective biomaterials to promote osseointegration.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58394-1

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