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Physical vapor deposition of zirconium or titanium thin films on flexible polyurethane highly support adhesion and physiology of human endothelial cells
Author(s) -
Ozkucur N.,
Wetzel C.,
Hollstein F.,
Richter E.,
Funk R. H. W.,
Monsees T. K.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.32003
Subject(s) - materials science , biocompatibility , wetting , coating , adhesion , contact angle , zirconium , polyurethane , titanium , surface energy , physical vapor deposition , scanning electron microscope , thin film , composite material , paint adhesion testing , umbilical vein , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , metallurgy , in vitro , biochemistry , chemistry , engineering
The aim of this study was to develop and characterize novel metal‐polymer constructs to improve the biocompatibility of flexible but hydrophobic polyurethane (PUR) implants. Using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique, thin films (≤100 nm) of zirconium (Zr) or titanium (Ti) were deposited on the polyurethane surface. Both coatings displayed good stability when subjected to cross‐cutting test and especially Zr showed only minor and superficial cracks in the scanning electron microscopy analysis. PVD coating resulted in significantly lowered contact angles and the standard surface free energy of wetting (Δ wet G °) turned to more favorable negative values (Ti: −40; Zr: −30; untreated PUR (uPUR): +10.1 mN/m). This may lead to the highly enhanced adhesion and proliferation properties observed with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, the novel coatings had no toxic effect and even drastically reduced apoptosis rates of HUVECs. Cell morphology, nitric oxide production, and mitochondrial membrane potential—both at static and flow conditions—were superior compared with uPUR, thus demonstrating intact physiological functions. Therefore, we suggest that combining PUR as a flexible material with a thin coating of Zr or Ti as the improved biocompatible surface may have advantages for use, for example, vascular graft material. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009