title: Analyses of antibacterial activity and cell compatibility of titanium coated with a Zr-C-N film.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to verify the antibacterial performance and cell proliferation activity of zirconium (Zr)-carbon (C)-nitride (N) coatings on commercially pure titanium (Ti) with different C contents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reactive nitrogen gas (N(2)) with and without acetylene (C(2)H(2)) was activated by Zr plasma in a cathodic-arc evaporation system to deposit either a zirconium nitride (ZrN) or a Zr-C-N coating onto Ti plates. The bacterial activity of the coatings was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus with the aid of SYTO9 nucleic acid staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cell compatibility, mRNA expression, and morphology related to human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) on the coated samples were also determined by using the MTT assay, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and SEM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Zr-C-N coating with the highest C content (21.7 at%) exhibited the lowest bacterial preservation (P<0.001). Biological responses including proliferation, gene expression, and attachment of HGF cells to ZrN and Zr-C-N coatings were comparable to those of the uncoated Ti plate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-C-content Zr-C-N coatings not only provide short-term antibacterial activity against S. aureus but are also biocompatible with HGF cells.
authors: Department of Mechanical and Computer-Aided Engineering, National Formosa University, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors: Yin-Yu
authors: YY
authors: Chang
authors: Heng-Li
authors: HL
authors: Huang
authors: Chih-Ho
authors: CH
authors: Lai
authors: Jui-Ting
authors: JT
authors: Hsu
authors: Tzong-Ming
authors: TM
authors: Shieh
authors: Aaron Yu-Jen
authors: AY
authors: Wu
authors: Chao-Ling
authors: CL
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D002244:Carbon; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium