Abstract
Diamond films have been considered as ideal candidates for protective coatings on bioimplants, as bioimplants themselves or as a guide for neural differentiation, because of their excellent mechanical properties, functional amenability, biocompatibility, and unique nanostructures. We separate nanocrystalline diamond films into two categories based on growth chemistries, nanostructure, and properties: nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) and ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD). UNCD is suitable for application as a hermetic coating for protection of implantable artificial retina medical devices, and also contributes to improvement of neural stem cell (NSC)-based cell transplantation, tissue engineering for neural tissue repair and regeneration and study of neural cell differentiation. © 2013 Woodhead Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.