Nanodiamonds for surface engineering of orthopedic implants: Enhanced biocompatibility in human osteosarcoma cell culture

• EPD of alginate-bioactive glass-nanodiamonds (ND) was employed to prepare novel biocompatiable composite coatings.
• Effects of ND on the conductivity, stability, and deposition rate of the multi-component suspensions were studied.
• Surface roughness and hydrophilicity of the deposited films and the role of ND were evaluated.
• ND improved in vitro bioactivity and cellular behavior in human osteosarcoma cell line.

Recently, nanodiamonds have attracted interest in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, targeted cancer therapies, fabrication of tissue scaffolds, and biosensors. We incorporated diamond nanoparticles in alginate–bioactive glass films by electrophoretic process to prepare functional coatings for biomedical implants. Turbidity examination by time-resolved laser transmittance measurement revealed that a stable multi-component aqueous suspension of alginate, bioactive glass and diamond particles could be obtained at concentrations of 0.6, 1.3, and 0.65 g/l, respectively. Uniform films with ~ 5 μm thickness were deposited on 316 stainless steel foils by employing constant field strength of 15 V/cm for 45 s. Scanning electron microscopy and simultaneous thermal analysis showed that the composite films were homogeneous and contained ~ 39 wt.% inorganic particles. In vitro bioactivity assessment in simulated body fluid for 4 weeks and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using human osteoblast-like cell line (MG-63) and mouse fibroblast cell line (L929) exhibited enhanced biocompatibility and bioactivity of the composite films. Results show advantages of alginate-nanodiamonds in cell culture, tissue engineering, and pharmaceutical applications.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide