Biocompatibility and Mechanical Stability of Nanopatterned Titanium Films on Stainless Steel Vascular Stents

Cagatay Yelkarasi, Nina Recek, Kursat Kazmanli, Janez Kovač, Miran Mozetič, Mustafa Urgen*, Ita Junkar*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nanoporous ceramic coatings such as titania are promoted to produce drug-free cardiovascular stents with a low risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) because of their selectivity towards vascular cell proliferation. The brittle coatings applied on stents are prone to cracking because they are subjected to plastic deformation during implantation. This study aims to overcome this problem by using a unique process without refraining from biocompatibility. Accordingly, a titanium film with 1 µm thickness was deposited on 316 LVM stainless-steel sheets using magnetron sputtering. Then, the samples were anodized to produce nanoporous oxide. The nanoporous oxide was removed by ultrasonication, leaving an approximately 500 nm metallic titanium layer with a nanopatterned surface. XPS studies revealed the presence of a 5 nm-thick TiO2 surface layer with a trace amount of fluorinated titanium on nanopatterned surfaces. Oxygen plasma treatment of the nanopatterned surface produced an additional 5 nm-thick fluoride-free oxide layer. The samples did not exhibit any cracking or spallation during plastic deformation. Cell viability studies showed that nanopatterned surfaces stimulate endothelial cell proliferation while reducing the proliferation of smooth muscle cells. Plasma treatment further accelerated the proliferation of endothelial cells. Activation of blood platelets did not occur on oxygen plasma-treated, fluoride-free nanopatterned surfaces. The presented surface treatment method can also be applied to other stent materials such as CoCr, nitinol, and orthopedic implants.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4595
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume23
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Funding

Funding: This study has been realized within the scope of a bilateral project between TUBITAK and ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency), project No. TUBITAK-216M520. The authors acknowledge the financial support given by TUBITAK and ARRS. We also acknowledge ARRS for P2-0082 (Thin film structures and plasma surface engineering) and Project J3-2533. This study has been realized within the scope of a bilateral project between TUBITAK and ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency), project No. TUBITAK-216M520. The authors acknowledge the financial support given by TUBITAK and ARRS. We also acknowledge ARRS for P2-0082 (Thin film structures and plasma surface engineering) and Project J3-2533.

FundersFunder number
TUBITAK
Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RSP2-0082, TUBITAK-216M520
plasma surface engineeringJ3-2533

    Keywords

    • cardiovascular stents
    • cell viability
    • endothelium cells
    • hemocompatibility
    • nanopatterning
    • plasma treatment
    • restenosis
    • smooth muscle cells

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Biocompatibility and Mechanical Stability of Nanopatterned Titanium Films on Stainless Steel Vascular Stents'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this