On the origin of reduced cytotoxicity of germanium‐doped diamond‐like carbon: Role of top surface composition and bonding

0549938 - FZÚ 2022 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Zemek, Josef - Jiříček, Petr - Houdková, Jana - Ledinský, Martin - Jelínek, Miroslav - Kocourek, Tomáš
On the origin of reduced cytotoxicity of germanium‐doped diamond‐like carbon: Role of top surface composition and bonding.
Nanomaterials. Roč. 11, č. 3 (2021), č. článku 567. E-ISSN 2079-4991
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT EF16_026/0008382
Grant - others:OP VVV - CARAT CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_026/0008382; AV ČR(CZ) StrategieAV21/6
Program: StrategieAV
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : germanium * diamond-like carbon * photoelectron spectroscopy * low energy ion scattering spectroscopy * Raman spectroscopy * carbon capping film * cytotoxic
OECD category: Biophysics
Impact factor: 5.719, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Open access

This work attempts to understand the behaviour of Ge-induced cytotoxicity of germanium-doped hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon (DLC) films recently thoroughly studied and published by Jelinek et al. At a low doping level, the films showed no cytotoxicity, while at a higher doping level, the films were found to exhibit medium to high cytotoxicity. We demonstrate, using surface-sensitive methods-two-angle X-ray-induced core-level photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) and Low Energy Ion Scattering (LEIS) spectroscopy, that at a low doping level, the layers are capped by a carbon film which impedes the contact of Ge species with tissue. For higher Ge content in the DLC films, oxidized Ge species are located at the top surface of the layers, provoking cytotoxicity. The present results indicate no threshold for Ge concentration in cell culture substrate to avoid a severe toxic reaction.

Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0325826