Biological and corrosion behavior of m-ZrO2 and t-ZrO2 coated 316L SS for potential biomedical applications

Surface modification is an established technology in biomedical industries to improve the performance of implant materials. In the present study, monoclinic (m-ZrO2) and tetragonal (t-ZrO2) phases of zirconia were deposited on stainless steel (316L SS) by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) to enhance several properties of substrate material. m-ZrO2 and t-ZrO2 coatings effectively protected bacterial invasion against pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and subsequent biofilm formation. Superior fibroblast cell viability with improved cells spreading was observed in m-ZrO2 and t-ZrO2 coatings. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results exhibited enhanced charge transfer resistance (R-ct) and thus, strongly improved corrosion protection by m-ZrO2 and t-ZrO2 coatings compared to bare 316L SS substrate in artificial blood plasma (ABP).