Correlation between blood compatibility and physical surface properties of tinanium-based coatings

Layers of Ti nitride, Ti oxynitrides TiNxOy and Ti oxide were produced by means of metal plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (MePIIID) from a plasma produced by cathodic arc evaporation of Ti under addition of nitrogen and/or oxygen to the ambient near the substrate. The phase composition and structure of the layers are strongly dependent on the relation of the gases partial pressure. To study the correlation between blood compatibility and physical properties of the coating the thrombocyte adhesion and fibrinogen adsorption on the surface as well as wettability and surface energy were investigated. Thrombocyte adhesion and fibrinogen adsorption are lower for TiNxOy than for TiO2. This correlates with a lower hydrophobicity and higher polar component of the surface energy for TiNxOy. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.