New insights of Nb₂O₅-based coatings on the 316L SS surfaces: enhanced biological responses

This communication aims to propose new insights of Nb₂O₅-based coatings on the 316L SS surface with great prospects to be used in the dentistry field as brackets. The Nb₂O₅ thin film was incorporated into the 316L SS by using PVD method. For this purpose, the studied system was characterized structurally and morphologically by using AFM, FTIR-IRRAS, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Biological assays were performed using human gingival fibroblast cell-line HGF-1. In agreement with FTIR and Raman results, the XPS technique indicates that Nb is present in an oxidation state assigned to Nb₂O_5. Furthermore, the coatings produced by PVD technique are less toxic and induces less inflammation in gingival cells (cell-line HGF-1), suggesting the strategy of use Nb₂O₅ thin film to cover the 316L SS promoted since its protection of the physiological environment to its biocompatibility improvement.