Antibacterial nanostructured composite films for biomedical applications: microstructural characteristics, biocompatibility, and antibacterial mechanisms

Abstract

Hydrogenated Cu-incorporated diamond-like carbon (a-C:H/Cu) films were prepared in the present study using a radio-frequency plasma magnetron sputtering system at various CH₄/Ar gas ratios. The a-C:H/Cu films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nano-indentation and a contact angle goniometer. The antibacterial properties and cell cytotoxicity of a-C:H/Cu films were evaluated as per JIS Z2801:2010 and ISO 10993-5 specifications, respectively. The analytical results revealed that the production of a-C:H/Cu films varied with the CH₄/Ar ratio, and the phase transformation (amorphous-like → nano-polycrystalline structure) was induced by Cu doping/ion bombardment and radical reactions. Moreover, it was found that the microhardness of the a-C:H/Cu films decreased with increasing Ar fraction in the gas ratio. The a-C:H/Cu films exhibited a high hydrophobic surface feature. The film which contained 77.3 ± 4.4 at.% Cu did not influence cell adhesion and proliferation behaviors. Antibacterial tests also demonstrated that a-C:H/Cu films possessed excellent antibacterial properties. Therefore, a-C:H/Cu films could be developed as promising antibacterial coatings for biomedical applications.

Keywords:

• hydrogenated diamond-like carbon
• microstructure
• contact angle
• biocompatibility
• antibacterial properties

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Corrigendum

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Center of Excellence for Clinical Trial and Research in Neurology and Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital for financially supporting this research under contract No. DOH101-TD-B-111-003, supported partly by the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan under contract No. DOH101-TD-N-111-003. The authors would also like to thank the Taipei Medical University Hospital and Wan Fang Hospital for financially supporting this research under contract 99TMU-TMUH-03-1, supported partly by the conference of 7th Asia-Pacific International Symposium on the Basics and Applications of Plasma Technology

Notes

Co-first author: Duen-Jeng Wang.