TiN, ZrN and DLC nanocoatings - a comparison of the effects on animals, in-vivo study

Abstract The paper presents a comparative study of the impact that TiN, ZrN and DLC nanocoatings on titanium implants have on animal organisms. The experiment lasted 602 days and used 15 laboratory animals (rabbits from the Lagomorph species). Implants, eight of each type, were implanted subcutaneously in the cervical region. The control group consisted of three animals. Over the course of the experiment, at the beginning and subsequently every 7 days, the animals had their blood drawn and analysed for parameters indicating inflammation. Once the experiment ended, a histopathological evaluation of the animals' internal organs was conducted, and the places where the implants came into contact with the tissue were also assessed. The results of the laboratory tests did not indicate any characteristics of inflammation for any of the coatings. The histopathological examination confirmed biocompatibility in all cases. This is of great importance in the case of the DLC coating, which, due to its tribological properties - a low friction coefficient - has a very high potential for application in various areas of medicine.