title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Medical University-Wanfang Hospital, Taipei 116, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fei-Peng
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Da-Yen
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Duen-Jeng
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Kai
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Yi-Chien
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Keng-Liang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Chih-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001128:Argon / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006244:Hardness; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D044367:Phase Transition; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001128:Argon; D018130:Diamond; D003300:Copper; D008697:Methane