A review of mechanical properties of diamond-like carbon coatings with various dopants as candidates for biomedical applications

In the modern world, there is an increasing demand for implants, and technologies connected with their manufacturing. One of the possible paths of their development relates to the use of diamond-like carbon coatings (DLC) for the improvement of surface properties of the biomaterials used for implants. Further improvement of the mentioned properties can be induced by means of doping of the coating. Among the elements which are under current investigation of researchers, the following can be placed: Ag, Si, F, Cu, Ti, Ca and P. This paper reviews previously published experimental data concerning mechanical and physicochemical properties of DLC coatings doped with Ag, Si, Cu, Ti, Ca, F and P as candidates for biomedical applications. Although plenty of articles are published in the mentioned field, the differences of coatings’ synthesis techniques, various sources of dopants and substrates, as well as conducted experiments make no consistent view about a possible solution for their future implementation in medicine. Some of the selected dopants (Cu, Ca, P), still require better characterisation of mechanical properties. There is a necessity to conduct studies of mechanical and physicochemical properties of DLC coatings doped with these elements. This will enable adjustment of the necessary technological parameters to biomedical requirements.