Surface properties and blood compatibility of commercially available diamond‐like carbon coatings for cardiovascular devices

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between the surface properties and blood compatibility of in-use diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings for cardiovascular components. Commercially available DLC films were characterized with respect to surface topography and wettability, protein adsorption from human plasma, and platelets adhesion/activation. Fibrinogen (Fng) and human serum albumin (HSA) adsorbed onto the sample surfaces were in particular quantified as two of the main proteins involved in blood compatibility. A low tendency of platelets to spread and form aggregates onto the DLC-coated surfaces has been described and related to a low Fng-to-HSA adsorption ratio. This study provides evidence that the rapid and tenacious binding of albumin molecules to DLC materials tends to passivate the surfaces and to inhibit Fng adsorption, thus imparting thromboresistance to the carbon coatings by rendering the surfaces less adhesive and activating for platelets. Albumin preferential adsorption was ascribed to high chemical heterogeneity of the DLC sample surfaces. The DLC films tested present a favorable behavior as regards blood compatibility with respect to platelet thrombus formation by reason of their surface properties.

Chemico-physical characterisation and in vivo biocompatibility assessment of DLC-coated coronary stents

“…The endothelial cell stent coverage showed to be in continuity with the native vascular endothelium. This outcome in an in vivo model is in line with the observations reported in Ma et al [22] and in Fedel et al [39,40] regarding the albumin:fibrinogen selective adsorbtion that was reported for DLC coatings, especially when rich in sp3 bonds. Moreover Fedel [39] observed that DLC coating showed a competitive and stable albumin passivation against fibrinogen.…”

“…Our results showed that iCarbofilm™ is rich in sp3 bonds (41%) and its nanostructured surface is morphologically and chemically speaking homogeneous, thanks also to its thinness, which preserves the metal substrate smooth surface. These characteristics, as mentioned in several papers [22,40], lead to a selective adsorption of proteins (albumin instead of fibrinogen) and to a very low platelets activation. From the above characteristics and from the cited results it was expected for this new DLC coating an extremely favourable haemocompatibility and a non-inflammatory behaviour.…”

Ultrathin Diamond-like Carbon Film Coated Silver Nanoparticles-Based Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

“…The Ag prepared nanoparticles substrate was further coated with an ultrathin ta-C film using a multifilm deposition system (Shimadzu, MR3, in SAE Magnetics (H.K) Ltd.)) with a combination of a FCVA (filtered cathodic vacuum arc) gun (Nanofilm Technology International, Singapore). 23 The deposition rate monitored by an ellipsometer was ϳ0.5 Å per second and the film thickness was varied from 5 to 40 Å. Prior to deposition, all the substrates were cleaned by RF-plasma sputtering using Ar ion plasma.…”

A macrophage/fibroblast co-culture system using a cell migration chamber to study inflammatory effects of biomaterials

“…Material surface properties such as wettability, topography, surface potential and surface chemistry have been proven to affect protein adsorption and cellular behavior on biomaterials [23][24][25][26][27]. Material-dependent monocyte/macrophage adhesion, macrophage fusion into foreign body giant cells (FBGC) and cytokine production have been investigated previously using model biomaterials [28][29][30][31].…”