Thin film composites of nanocrystalline diamond particles and diamond-like carbon: structural, electrochemical and biological properties

摘要

Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) films have been the focus of extensive research in recent years due to their potential application as surface coatings. In this paper, we report the main results obtained in our laboratories from the production and characterization of nanocrystalline diamond particles (NCD) incorporated in DLC films for biomedical applications. The films were growth on 316L stainless steel substrates from a dispersion of NCD nanoparticles in hexane using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Raman scattering spectroscopy was used to study the atomic arrangements of the film, and atomic force microscopy, the roughness of the film. The investigation of NCD-DLC electrochemical corrosion behavior was performed using potentiodynamic method. Cell viability was evaluated with L-929 mouse fibroblast cells using 2-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-3,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) in vitro assay. The NCD particles increased the structural diamond-like domains and surface roughness, which improved DLC and stainless steel electrochemical corrosion resistance and prevented aggressive ions from attacking metallic surfaces. Those NCD particles also increased the DLC cell viability, maximizing the potential use of NCD-DLC films in biomedical applications.