Effect of Si(C,N) Coatings on Prosthetic Alloys on the Initial Adhesion of E. coli Bacteria and C. albicans Fungi and Antimicrobial Activity

The presence and development of pathogens in the human body remains a serious problem. The existence of microorganisms is primarily related to their ability to adhere to various surfaces. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Si(C,N) coatings on a nickel-chromium alloy surface to reduce bacterial and fungal adhesion and to provide antimicrobial activity. This publication also focused on determining which coating variant is most effective in reducing microbial adhesion. Si(C,N) coatings were sputtered onto the surface of the prosthetic alloy using the magnetron sputtering method. Observation was performed using a fluorescence microscope and a flow cytometer. The number of adhered bacterial cells decreased compared to the samples without coating (sample series A) by approximately 84% in sample series B and by 29% in sample series F. In the case of adhesion of fungal cells, their number decreased compared to the samples without coating (sample series A) by approximately 76% in sample series B and by 47% in sample series F. The applied one-way analysis of variance test indicated a statistically significant effect of the tested factor at a level below 0.001. Based on the conducted research, it was noticed that the use of Si(C,N) layers on the surface of the prosthetic alloy limits the adhesion of bacteria and fungi.