Hemocompatible, pulsed laser deposited coatings on polymers

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Surface Science
• Medical Device Coatings

Background:

• Current non-thrombogenic surfaces, often heparin-based, face challenges with bleeding complications.
• Clinical applications require materials with appropriate blood flow characteristics and enhanced biocompatibility.
• Low-temperature deposition techniques are needed for coating temperature-sensitive polymer substrates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe pulsed laser deposition (PLD) as a viable low-temperature vacuum coating technique.
• To evaluate the structural properties and biological response of various coatings.
• To investigate the adhesion and cell attachment mechanisms of novel biomaterials.

Main Methods:

• Detailed description of the industrial-scaled pulsed laser deposition process at room temperature.
• Deposition of titanium, titanium nitride, titanium carbonitride, and diamond-like carbon films.
• Analysis of structural film properties and biological response, including cell attachment kinetics.

Main Results:

• PLD achieved adequate film structure and high adhesion at room temperature on polyurethane, titanium, and silicon substrates.
• Coatings demonstrated high biological acceptance and varied critical delamination shear stress.
• Higher carbon content in coatings correlated with increased adhesion.

Conclusions:

• Pulsed laser deposition is a promising method for creating biocompatible coatings at low temperatures.
• The developed coatings exhibit excellent adhesion and biological acceptance, particularly those with higher carbon content.
• This technology addresses the need for improved materials in blood-contacting medical devices.