Zhang Miao, Li Fei, Zhang Dechuang, Dai Yilong, Zhang Xiaokai, Lin Sihan, Li Yuncang, Wen Cuie
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China.
Henan Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, China.
Acta Biomater. 2025 Aug;202:660-679. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2025.06.028. Epub 2025 Jun 13.
Zinc-Selenium (Zn-Se) alloys are promising biodegradable hard-tissue implant materials, particularly due to Se's efficacy in both preventing and treating cancer. However, the difficulty in alloying Zn with Se and the processing softening of Zn alloys seriously hinder the clinical application of Zn-Se alloys. Here, we report on the successful preparation of a Zn-4Cu-2Se alloy using casting and hot rolling, and its extraordinarily effective biocompatibility and antibacterial and anti-tumor capabilities. The microstructural compositions of the Zn-4Cu-2Se alloy prominently featured an η-Zn matrix and the intermetallic phases of ε-CuZn and ZnSe. The hot-rolled Zn-4Cu-2Se alloy demonstrated significant work-hardening behavior under tensile deformation and revealed a yield strength of 215 ± 3 MPa, tensile strength of 234 ± 2 MPa, and fracture strain of 12.1 ± 0.2 %, along with a moderate degradation rate of approximately 56.2 ± 0.3 μm/year in Hanks' solution, meeting the benchmark mechanical and degradation properties for biodegradable orthopedic-implant materials. Furthermore, the hot-rolled Zn-4Cu-2Se alloy demonstrated markedly effective antibacterial capacity against S. aureus and anti-tumor activity against osteosarcoma MG63 cells, and profound biocompatibility and osteogenic capacity toward pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. Overall, the hot-rolled Zn-4Cu-2Se alloy holds great promise for orthopedic applications owing to its unique integration of work-hardening behavior and biofunctionalities. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work reports on the extraordinarily effective biocompatibility and antibacterial and antitumor capabilities of a hot-rolled Zn-4Cu-2Se alloy. The alloy demonstrated significant work-hardening behavior under tensile deformation, with a yield strength of ∼215 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of ∼234 MPa, elongation of ∼12.1 %, and a moderate degradation rate of approximately 56.2 μm/year. Moreover, the alloy showed markedly effective antibacterial ability against S. aureus and antitumor activity against MG63 osteosarcoma cells, and significant biocompatibility and osteogenicity toward pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. This Zn-4Cu-2Se alloy is promising for orthopedic applications owing to its unique combination of work-hardening behavior and biofunctional properties.
锌-硒（Zn-Se）合金是很有前景的可生物降解硬组织植入材料，特别是因为硒在预防和治疗癌症方面都有功效。然而，锌与硒合金化的困难以及锌合金的加工软化严重阻碍了Zn-Se合金的临床应用。在此，我们报告了通过铸造和热轧成功制备出Zn-4Cu-2Se合金，以及其极其有效的生物相容性、抗菌和抗肿瘤能力。Zn-4Cu-2Se合金的微观结构组成主要特征为η-Zn基体以及ε-CuZn和ZnSe金属间相。热轧后的Zn-4Cu-2Se合金在拉伸变形下表现出显著的加工硬化行为，其屈服强度为215±3MPa，抗拉强度为234±2MPa，断裂应变为12.1±0.2%，并且在汉克斯溶液中的降解速率适中，约为56.2±0.3μm/年，满足可生物降解骨科植入材料的基准力学和降解性能要求。此外，热轧后的Zn-4Cu-2Se合金对金黄色葡萄球菌表现出显著有效的抗菌能力，对骨肉瘤MG63细胞具有抗肿瘤活性，并且对前成骨细胞MC3T3-E1细胞具有良好的生物相容性和成骨能力。总体而言，热轧后的Zn-4Cu-2Se合金因其独特的加工硬化行为和生物功能的结合，在骨科应用方面具有巨大潜力。重要意义声明：本研究报告了热轧Zn-4Cu-2Se合金极其有效的生物相容性、抗菌和抗肿瘤能力。该合金在拉伸变形下表现出显著的加工硬化行为，屈服强度约为215MPa，极限抗拉强度约为234MPa，伸长率约为12.1%，降解速率适中，约为每年56.2μm。此外，该合金对金黄色葡萄球菌表现出显著有效的抗菌能力，对MG63骨肉瘤细胞具有抗肿瘤活性，并且对前成骨细胞MC3T3-E1细胞具有显著的生物相容性和成骨性。由于其独特的加工硬化行为和生物功能特性的结合，这种Zn-4Cu-2Se合金在骨科应用方面很有前景。
