Wettability and biocompatibility of nitrogen-doped hydrogenated amorphous carbon films:
Effect of nitrogen

Yang P., Huang N., Leng Y.X., Yao Z.YQ., Zhou H.F., Maitz M., Leng Y., Chu P.K.

Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res B 242: 22-25
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.30435
 

Amorphous carbon films have been applied in biomedical fields as potential biocompatible materials with wettability that can be adjusted by doping with other elements, including F, Si, Ti, O and N. In this study, nitrogen-doped hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H:N) films were deposited by PIII-D using C2H2+N2 gas mixtures. The biocompatibility and anti-thrombotic properties of the films were assessed in vitro. The surface morphology and surface wettability of the films were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a contact angle method. The results show no cytotoxicity for all films, and films with appropriate nitrogen doping possess much better endothelial cell growth and anti-thrombotic properties.