Аннотация:Three techniques of the modification of amorphous carbon-based coatings synthesized by the pulse-plasma method aimed at the enhancement of their antibacterial performance were suggested. The O2/N2 addition to a working gas, assistance by nitrogen ions and silver inclusions addition to the sputtered cathode were applied to modify the structure of the coatings. The films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, electron energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and wettability measurements. The antibacterial performance of the coatings was analyzed, revealing the suppression of the bacterial biofilm formation on the coated surfaces. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the structures against mouse fibroblast cells was assessed. The effects of the sp2/sp3 ratio, surface sp2-rich layer, oxygen and nitrogen content and the incorporation of silver nanoparticles on the films antibacterial performance were studied. The mechanisms of suppression of the adhesion and proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus were discussed, allowing the suggestions of the potential ways for the additional antibacterial performance improvement of a-C and ta-C structures.
