Biomedical coatings on polyethylene terephthalate artificial ligaments

Abstract

This review comprehensively covers research conducted to enhance polyethylene terephthalate (PET) artificial ligament osseointegration in the bone tunnel. These strategies, using biocompatible or bioactive coatings, had a positive effect in promoting PET ligament osseointegration by increasing bone formation and decreasing fibrous scar tissue at the ligament-to-bone interface. The improved osseointegration can be translated into a significant increase in the biomechanical pull-out loads. However, the load-to-failure of coated ligament is far lower than that of native ACL. Coatings to promote intra-articular ligamentization are also discussed in this study. Collectively, our investigations may arouse further study of the biological coating of PET artificial ligaments in order to effectively enhance ligament osseointegration and promote artificial ligament ligamentization.

Keywords: PET; artificial ligament; ligamentization; load-to-failure; osseointegration.