Biological activity of silver-doped DLC films

The technique of combined DC metal arc and carbon pulsed arc was used to deposit thin solid films containing up to 6.5 at.% of silver. The microstructure and antibacterial properties of silver-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have been investigated. Silver nanoparticle of flat disk shape located inside of an amorphous carbon matrix revealed excellent antibacterial properties concerning Staphylococcus аureus bacteria. Titanium substrates with DLC films doped with silver have an inhibiting effect on growth of some tumors, in particular, on rat neoplastic С6 glioma. This result is new and opens further possibility for application of DLC:Ag composite in medicine.