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Lime phosphosilicate and soda lime phosphosilicate glasses prepared by sol-gel method were precursors of bioactive glass-ceramics. The structure of the samples and the distribution of the [SiO4] units was investigated by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Human osteosarcoma cell line (MG63) was used for the in vitro cellular response. DNA staining (Hoechst 33258) assay was performed for assessing samples colonization.

Numerous recently investigations are oriented towards the development of new classes of thin films, having dry-lubrication properties. These efforts were determined by the enormous energy losses generated by friction, and due to technical complications determined by the systems used for classic lubrication. This paper presents our results concerning a new class of nanomaterials, with ternary composition deposited from simple/compound materials (Ti/TixNy, TiB2/TixBiyNz, WC/WxCyNz). The films were deposited by magnetron sputtering, with varying sputtering parameters (sputtering power, reactive gas) on stainless steel substrates - ultrasonically and glow discharge cleaned before the deposition process. The influence of the deposition parameters on the mechanical and wear properties was assessed by nanoindentation, scratch resistance (to quantify the adhesion of the films to the steel substrate) and by pin-on- disk wear tests. The general conclusion was that the sample deposited at 5500 C, with N2 as reactive gas and 0.5 kV for substrate polarization, has the best mechanical characteristics (hardness and elastic modulus) and lubricant properties (represented by u average), when compared to the remaining samples.