New synthetic PEKK/bioceramic hybrids and their surface sulfonation counterparts have increased cellular osteogenic capacity and promoted osseointegration

•We employ a synthetic hybrid that mimics natural bone development but which employs PEKK in place of collagen.•The synthetic hybrid was made by using nanostructured Al2O3 and HA as seedbeds to grow PEKK molecules onto them.•HA hybrids increase the number of S-phase cells by elevating both mRNA and protein levels of cell cycle.•HA hybrids and S-PEKK/Al2O3 promote cellular osteogenic differentiation by upregulating mRNA and protein expression of osteogenic-related genes.