Fabrication of Chitosan‐18β‐Glycyrrhetinic Acid Modified Titanium Implants with Nanorod Arrays for Suppression of Osteosarcoma Growth and Improvement of Osteoblasts Activity

Abstract Surgery has been combined with chemotherapy to treat osteosarcoma. However, the recovery rate of osteosarcoma patients is still low. To prevent post‐operative recurrence of the osteosarcoma, developing an alternative biomaterial is essential. 18β‐Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) has shown potential anticancer activity in various malignancies. Here it is proposed that GA can induce osteosarcoma cell apoptosis, and a polydopamine‐mediated titanium oxide nanorod (TiO 2 NR) surface is functionalized by covalently grafting the chitosan‐18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid conjugate (CS–GA). In vitro and in vivo biological tests indicate that the CS–GA modified surface shows significant antiproliferation and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells (MG63). Additionally, this modified surface with nanoarray structure stimulation and chitosan supplementation significantly promotes osteoblast (MC3T3‐E1) adhesion and proliferation in vitro. This dual‐functional, Ti‐based implant with balanced antitumor and biocompatibility properties represents an effective strategy for the surgical treatment of osteosarcoma.