| Abstract Scope |
Over the last 10-15 years, magnesium and its alloys have become the foundation of a new field of biodegradable metals that has begun to have a clinical impact due to their superior biocompatibility. Unfortunately, compared to other metallic implants, their strengths are lower and their corrosion (degradation) rates are faster than the needed values for bone fixation applications. In this work, the focus is on the development of a biocompatible magnesium-based alloy system and post-fabrication processes (heat treatments and coatings) to deliver a high-strength and corrosion-controlled material for biomedical implant applications. The fabricated materials were tested for their mechanical, corrosion, and biocompatibility. The magnesium-based alloy processed using the developed post-fabrication methods showed superior strength and controlled degradation rates. Also, the in vitro and in vivo assessments of the magnesium alloy and post-fabrication methods showed high levels of biocompatibility in terms of cytotoxicity, degradation rates, and fracture healing. |