Purpose/aim of the study: To summarize and discuss macrophage properties and their roles and mechanisms in the process of osseointegration in a comprehensive manner, and to provide theoretical support and research direction for future implant surface modification efforts.
Materials and methods: Based on relevant high-quality articles, this article reviews the role of macrophages in various stages of osseointegration and methods of implant modification.
Results and conclusions: Macrophages not only promote osseointegration through immunomodulation, but also secrete a variety of cytokines, which play a key role in the angiogenic and osteogenic phases of osseointegration. There is no "good" or "bad" difference between the M1 and M2 phenotypes of macrophages, but their timely presence and sequential switching play a crucial role in implant osseointegration. In the implant surface modification strategy, the induction of sequential activation of the M1 and M2 phenotypes of macrophages is a brighter prospect for implant surface modification than inducing the polarization of macrophages to the M1 or M2 phenotypes individually, which is a promising pathway to enhance the effect of osseointegration and increase the success rate of implant surgery.
Keywords: Macrophage; implant; osteoimmunity; osteointegration; regulation.