Descripción del proyecto
Recubrimientos de carbono dopado con plata de altas prestaciones para aplicaciones biomédicas
Las películas de carbono amorfo (DLC, por sus siglas en inglés) presentan propiedades mecánicas excepcionales que las hacen ideales como recubrimientos protectores. Debido a su alta dureza, baja fricción y biocompatibilidad con células vivas, los recubrimientos de DLC dopado con plata son muy valorados en el campo de la biomedicina. Se ha demostrado que una mayor concentración de plata en el recubrimiento mejora su biocompatibilidad, pero una concentración excesiva de plata podría reducir su resistencia mecánica y durabilidad, además de ser tóxica para los humanos. El objetivo del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos HePULSE es sintetizar recubrimientos de DLC dopado con una concentración precisa de nanopartículas de plata en ubicaciones específicas del recubrimiento. Las nanopartículas de plata se crearán «in situ» mediante enfriamiento rápido con plasma y se incrustarán simultáneamente en la matriz de DLC mediante un proceso de un solo paso.
Objetivo
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are renowned for their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The overall DLC market is projected a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% by 2020, while the DLC in biomedical sector alone is growing with a CAGR of 33%, which is inspiring advanced DLC research for biomedical use. Hard DLC coatings have poor toughness which limits their application for joint implants that involve impact, shear, and torsion. Silver-doped DLC coatings (Ag-DLC) are increasing in popularity in the biomedical sector as they boost biocompatibility and toughness of pure DLC coatings simultaneously. The biocompatibility of Ag-DLC is shown to increase by increasing Ag fraction, but excessive Ag reduces the mechanical strength and durability and a high Ag dose may become toxic to the patient if the coating fails. We have identified that Ag is essential for early post-surgery, thus it would be highly beneficial to develop a coating where Ag is only doped near the surface, providing maximum biological performance without reducing DLC strength. In fact, selective Ag doping in a DLC matrix is challenging through established physical vapour deposition techniques.
In this project, we are aiming to develop a novel DLC coating with precise and localized doping of Ag nanoparticles using the sputtering method. The Ag nanoparticles will be created in-situ by rapid plasma quenching with He pulses and simultaneously embedded in the DLC matrix in a single-step process. The unique features are precise amounts and specific size of Ag nanoparticles which will be embedded at controlled depths in the DLC matrix. The coatings will be tested for biological functioning i.e. biocompatibility and antimicrobial tests and mechanical performance, which includes hardness, toughness, and tribology. The new Ag-DLC coatings are expected to present a simultaneous improvement in biological and mechanical performance due to their unique tailor-made architecture.
Ámbito científico
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrynoble gases
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringtribology
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
NE1 8ST Newcastle Upon Tyne
Reino Unido