Laser-Treated Surfaces for VADs: From Inert Titanium to Potential Biofunctional Materials

Objective. Laser-treated surfaces for ventricular assist devices. Impact Statement. This work has scientific impact since it proposes a biofunctional surface created with laser processing in bioinert titanium. Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s leading cause of death. An especially debilitating heart disease is congestive heart failure. Among the possible therapies, heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory assistance are the main treatments for its severe form at a more advanced stage. The development of biomaterials for ventricular assist devices is still being carried out. Although polished titanium is currently employed in several devices, its performance could be improved by enhancing the bioactivity of its surface. Methods. Aiming to improve the titanium without using coatings that can be detached, this work presents the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures with a topology suitable for cell adhesion and neointimal tissue formation. The surface was modified by femtosecond laser ablation and cell adhesion was evaluated in vitro by using fibroblast cells. Results. The results indicate the formation of the desired topology, since the cells showed the appropriate adhesion compared to the control group. Scanning electron microscopy showed several positive characteristics in the cells shape and their surface distribution. The in vitro results obtained with different topologies point that the proposed LIPSS would provide enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. Conclusion. The laser processes studied can create new interactions in biomaterials already known and improve the performance of biomaterials for use in ventricular assist devices.