Department of Surface Engineering, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 1;22(21):11858. doi: 10.3390/ijms222111858.
The research presented herein follows an urgent global need for the development of novel surface engineering techniques that would allow the fabrication of next-generation cardiovascular stents, which would drastically reduce cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The combination of hydrothermal treatment (HT) and treatment with highly reactive oxygen plasma (P) allowed for the formation of an oxygen-rich nanostructured surface. The morphology, surface roughness, chemical composition and wettability of the newly prepared oxide layer on the Ti substrate were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle (WCA) analysis. The alteration of surface characteristics influenced the material's bio-performance; platelet aggregation and activation was reduced on surfaces treated by hydrothermal treatment, as well as after plasma treatment. Moreover, it was shown that surfaces treated by both treatment procedures (HT and P) promoted the adhesion and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, while at the same time inhibiting the adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. The combination of both techniques presents a novel approach for the fabrication of vascular implants, with superior characteristics.
本文的研究紧跟全球对于开发新型表面工程技术的迫切需求，这些技术将用于制造下一代心血管支架，从而大幅降低心血管疾病（CVD）的发病率。水热处理（HT）和高反应性氧等离子体（P）处理的结合，促成了富含氧的纳米结构表面的形成。通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）结合能谱分析（EDX）、原子力显微镜（AFM）、X 射线光电子能谱（XPS）和水接触角（WCA）分析，对 Ti 基底上新制备的氧化层的形貌、表面粗糙度、化学成分和润湿性进行了表征。表面特性的改变影响了材料的生物性能；血小板的聚集和激活在经过水热处理以及等离子体处理后的表面上减少了。此外，研究表明，经过两种处理工艺（HT 和 P）处理的表面能够促进血管内皮细胞的黏附和增殖，同时抑制血管平滑肌细胞的黏附和增殖。这两种技术的结合为血管植入物的制造提供了一种新颖的方法，具有优异的特性。
