Hemocompatibility of low-friction boron-carbon-nitrogen containing coatings

Mechanical heart valves are exposed to extreme mechanical demands, which require a surface showing not only nonhaemostatic properties, but also wear resistance and low friction. As alternative to different forms of amorphous carbon (a-C), so-called diamond-like carbon (DLC), the suitability of boron carbonitride (BCN) coatings is tested here for hemocompatible coatings. They have similar mechanical properties like a-C surfaces, but superior chemical stability at ferrous substrates or counterparts. BCN films with different nitrogen content were compared with hydrogenated a-C films regarding their mechanical properties, surface energy, adsorption of albumin and fibrinogen, blood platelet adherence, and activation of the contact system of the clotting cascade and kinin system. Similar mechanical properties and biological response have been found in the BCN films with respect to a-C, indicating the potential of these coatings for biomedical applications. The increase in the crystallinity and tribological properties of the BCN samples with a higher incorporation of N was also followed by a lower protein adsorption and low activation of the contact system, but an increased adherence of thrombocytes.