ENDRINO ARMENTEROS, JOSÉ LUIS
No
Coatings
Review
Científica
2
2
30/04/2026
1,77435E+12
2-s2.0-105040130663
Highlights What are the main findings? center dot DLC enables independent tuning of surface properties in AM biomedical components. center dot DLCs improve wear and biological response. center dot Performance depends on composition, structure, and deposition method. What are the implications of the main findings? center dot DLC coating becomes a key design tool, not just a post-treatment method. center dot Specific DLC coating selection remains a key challenge to be solved. center dot Future work requires long-term in vivo validation.Highlights What are the main findings? center dot DLC enables independent tuning of surface properties in AM biomedical components. center dot DLCs improve wear and biological response. center dot Performance depends on composition, structure, and deposition method. What are the implications of the main findings? center dot DLC coating becomes a key design tool, not just a post-treatment method. center dot Specific DLC coating selection remains a key challenge to be solved. center dot Future work requires long-term in vivo validation.Abstract Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are increasingly explored as a practical route to enhance the surface performance of biomedical implants and tissue engineering scaffolds, particularly when combined with additive manufacturing. Rather than serving only as protective layers, DLC coatings allow for independent tuning of surface properties without modifying the bulk structure, which is especially relevant for complex 3D-printed components. This flexibility is often what makes them attractive for biomedical design. This review is structured around two main application areas: DLC coatings for prosthetic implants and DLC coatings for tissue engineering scaffolds. Within this context, the influence of DLC structure (e.g., sp2/sp3 bonding, hydrogen content, and doping) on mechanical, tribological, and biological behavior is discussed. Particular attention is given to additively manufactured metallic implants and porous scaffolds, where large surface area and internal architectures complicate coating uniformity and adhesion. Reports show that DLC coatings can improve corrosion resistance, reduce wear, and influence biological responses, such as antibacterial activity and cell interactions. Several challenges remain to be solved, especially in achieving uniform coating penetration in porous networks and in ensuring long-term stability under physiological conditions. The combination of additive manufacturing and DLC coatings has been shown to offer the potential to become an enabling technology for next-generation biomedical devices.
biomedical applications; surface engineering; 3D printing