The study of platelet reaction on a-C:H:SiOx coatings obtained via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition with bipolar bias voltage

Aim. To study platelet adhesion to a-C:H:SiOx film on titanium in an in vitro experiment to evaluate its antithrombogenic potential.

Materials and methods. Thin (less than 1 μm) a-C:H:SiOx films were deposited on VT-6 titanium plates with a size of 10 × 10 mm2 and a thickness of 0.2 mm using a vacuum ion-plasma unit using pulsed bipolar bias. The surface roughness was evaluated according to GOST 2789-73 using an atomic force microscope. The test samples were cultured at 37 °C for 30 min in platelet-rich human blood plasma, prepared for scanning electron microscopy, after which the distribution density of blood plates adhering to the test coating was calculated.

Results. With the same roughness index of the studied a-C:H:SiOx samples, the film decreased 116 times (in comparison with untreated titanium) the platelet count per 1 mm2 of the surface.

Conclusion. The deposition of a-C:H:SiOx thin film on the surface of VT-6 titanium alloy by PACVD method using pulsed bipolar bias significantly reduces the distribution density of platelets in comparison with an untreated metal surface. In vitro data suggest a significant antithrombogenic potential of this type of coating on the surface of devices in contact with blood.

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