Fabrication and functional characterization of engineered features on pyrolytic carbon

Abstract

Engineered features on pyrolytic carbon (PyC) have been reported to improve the functional performance of the bio-implants. This paper is focused on the functional characterization of micro-features created on the surface of PyC. Two different types of micro-features (wide channels and arrayed holes) have been created by micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM). Two other micro-features (fine channels and micro-pillars) have been created by micromilling process. Coliform bacterial strain was isolated from a sample of water and grown on all four textured. Cell growth was carried out on an unmachined surface to see the behavior of the isolated bacterial strain on the textured/non-textured surfaces. The samples were examined under SEM before and after wash to see cell growth and cell adhesion capability of the textures. The wide channels by micro-EDM show the maximum cell growth but poor cell adhesion. 184% higher cell growth has been observed on the wide channels in comparison with unmachined surface. The fine channels by micro-milling show comparatively lower growth but the cell adhesion on this surface was found excellent. 71% cells remain unwashed after washing of the surface having fine channel textures. It means that the channels structure shows the maximum cell growth and adhesion independent of machining process.

Keywords

Pyrolytic carbon / Micro-features / Surface texturing / Cell growth and adhesion

Funding

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)(22(0552)/ 11/EMR-II)