Corrosion resistance of Ti-Si-N coatings in blood and cytocompatibility with vascular endothelial cells

• The Ti-Si-N coatings showed higher corrosion resistance compared to titanium alloy.
• Improved cell proliferation and adhesion are observed from the deposited Ti-Si-N coatings.
• Reduced platelet activation observed in the Ti–Si–N coatings.
• Ti-Si-N coating is responsible for the improving of eNOS expression.

Ti-Si-N coatings are deposited on titanium alloy by arc-enhanced magnetron sputtering at different negative bias voltages and their corrosion resistance in blood, effects on platelet activation, endothelial cell functions are studied. The Ti-Si-N coatings are made up of crystalline TiN and amorphous Si3N4 phases and show better corrosion resistance compared with titanium alloy. Reduced platelet receptor activation is observed on the Ti-Si-N coatings and that deposited at −100 V shows the longest clotting time and smallest platelet activation. Ti-Si-N coatings also enhance the endothelial cell proliferation and spreading as well as the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression.