Surface and Bioproperties of Nanocrystalline Diamond/Amorphous Carbon Nanocomposite Films

Nanocrystalline diamond/amorphous carbon nanocomposite films have been deposited by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition from CH4/N2 mixtures. Their bulk properties have been investigated, among others, by XRD, Raman spectroscopy and FTIR. They consist of diamond nanocrystals of 3-5 nm diameter, embedded in an amorphous carbon matrix with a crystallite/matrix ratio of about unity. In order to assess the suitability of such NCD/a-C films for application in biotechnology and biosensorics, e.g. as a template for the immobilization of biomolecules, the properties of four differently prepared surfaces, namely two hydrophobic (as-grown and plasma hydrogen terminated) and two hydrophilic (plasma and chemically oxygen terminated) were thoroughly investigated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, zeta-potential measurements and atomic force microscopy. By performing measurements as a function of time, the stability of the different surfaces was established. Cytotoxicity and simulated body fluid tests revealed that as-grown NCD/a-C surfaces are not cytotoxic and bioinert. Finally, the non-specific absorption of biomolecules such as proteins and RNA (biofouling) on the various surfaces was investigated by AFM, scanning force spectroscopy, TOF-SIMS and ellipsometry. It could be shown that the non-specific absorbtion on hydrophobic surfaces is very low as compared to control materials such as mica or glas.

KULISCH Wilhelm;  POPOV Cyril;  BLIZNAKOV S.;  CECCONE Giacomo;  GILLILAND Douglas;  RAUSCHER Hubert;  SIRGHI Lucel;  ROSSI Francois; 

2008-01-10

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

JRC36878

0040-6090,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC36878,   

10.1016/j.tsf.2007.05.054,