Due to its favorable chemical stability, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties, Poly(etheretherketone) (
PEEK) is a promising material for repairing bone and dental hard tissue defects. However, there are critical disadvantages:
PEEK is biologically and chemically inert, which influences osseointegration of implants and bonding strength of
prostheses, and its mechanical properties still cannot meet the requirements for some medical applications. Furthermore,
bacterial infections and inflammatory reactions often accompany bone defects caused by
trauma or
inflammation or teeth loss caused by
periodontitis. Previous studies mainly focused on enhancing
PEEK's bioactivity and mechanical performance, but
PEEK also lacks effective anti-
infection ability. Thus, it is necessary to improve its anti-
infection ability, and this is considered in this paper from two aspects. The first is to inhibit the attachment and growth of bacteria on the material, and the second is to endow the material with immunoregulatory ability, which means mobilizing the host immune system to protect tissue from
inflammation. In this review, we analyze and discuss the existing treatment methods to improve the antibacterial and immunomodulatory abilities of
PEEK addressing their limitations, relevant future challenges, and required research efforts.