Integral Algorithms to Evaluate TiO2 and N-TiO2 Thin Films' Cytocompatibility

Irina Yu Zhuravleva; Maria A Surovtseva; Alina A Alshevskaya; Nikolay V Surovtsev; Konstantin A Okotrub; Irina I Kim; Dmitriy A Nasimov; Natalia A Bondarenko; Oleg S Kuzmin; Olga V Poveshchenko

doi:10.3390/ijms232315183

Integral Algorithms to Evaluate TiO₂ and N-TiO₂ Thin Films' Cytocompatibility

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 2;23(23):15183. doi: 10.3390/ijms232315183.

Authors

Irina Yu Zhuravleva¹, Maria A Surovtseva^{1

2}, Alina A Alshevskaya^{3

4}, Nikolay V Surovtsev⁵, Konstantin A Okotrub⁵, Irina I Kim^{1

2}, Dmitriy A Nasimov⁶, Natalia A Bondarenko^{1

2}, Oleg S Kuzmin^{7

8}, Olga V Poveshchenko^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ E. Meshalkin National Medical Research Center of the RF Ministry of Health, 15 Rechkunovskaya St., 630055 Novosibirsk, Russia.
² Research Institute of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology, Branch of the Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 2 Timakova St., 630060 Novosibirsk, Russia.
³ Biostatistics and Clinical Trials Center, Lavrentieva 6/1, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
⁴ Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology" (RIFCI), 14, Yadrintsevskaya St., 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia.
⁵ Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Academician Koptyug St., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
⁶ Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS, 30 Pirogova St., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
⁷ Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, 2/4, pr. Akademicheskii, 634055 Tomsk, Russia.
⁸ VIP Technologies Ltd., 634055 Tomsk, Russia.

Abstract

Titanium oxide (TiO₂) and oxynitride (N-TiO₂) coatings can increase nitinol stents' cytocompatibility with endothelial cells. Methods of TiO₂ and N-TiO₂ sputtering and cytocompatibility assessments vary significantly among different research groups, making it difficult to compare results. The aim of this work was to develop an integral cytocompatibility index (ICI) and a decision tree algorithm (DTA) using the "EA.hy926 cell/TiO₂ or N-TiO₂ coating" model and to determine the optimal cytocompatible coating. Magnetron sputtering was performed in a reaction gas medium with various N₂:O₂ ratios and bias voltages. The samples' morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The cytocompatibility of the coatings was evaluated in terms of their cytotoxicity, adhesion, viability, and NO production. The ICI and DTA were developed to assess the cytocompatibility of the samples. Both algorithms demonstrated the best cytocompatibility for the sample sputtered at U_bias = 0 V and a gas ratio of N₂:O₂ = 2:1, in which the rutile phase dominated. The DTA provided more detailed information about the cytocompatibility, which depended on the sputtering mode, surface morphology, and crystalline phase. The proposed mathematical models relate the cytocompatibility and the studied physical characteristics.

Keywords: cytocompatibility; decision tree algorithm; integral index; reactive magnetron sputtering; titanium oxynitride.

MeSH terms

Endothelial Cells*
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Spectrum Analysis, Raman
Titanium* / chemistry
Titanium* / toxicity

Substances

titanium dioxide
Titanium

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the state assignment of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (N: 121032300337-5) and the State Assignment of the Russian Federation No. 1021060908897-3.