Improved biocompatibility of carbon-fibre-reinforced carbon composites in vitro after their polishing and coating with a carbon-titanium layer

The surface of unidirectionally reinforced carbon-carbon composites was modified either by polishing or coating with a carbon-titanium layer. In culture conditions; the composites were seeded with vascular smooth muscle cells derived from the rat aorta. On both types of modified samples, the number of initially adhered cells, degree of their spreading and their subsequent growth were significantly higher than on untreated samples, and in the case of carbon-titanium-covered composites, also higher than on standard plastic culture dishes Sterilin. These results obtained in vitro suggest possible good biointegration of the polished and carbon-titanium-covered carbon-carbon composites with the surrounding tissue in situ after their use in transplantation medicine for the construction of artificial implants.