Ivănescu Mircea Cătălin, Munteanu Corneliu, Cimpoeșu Ramona, Vlad Maria Daniela, Istrate Bogdan, Lupu Fabian Cezar, Șindilar Eusebiu Viorel, Vlasa Alexandru, Stan Cristinel Ionel, Ivănescu Maria Larisa, Zegan Georgeta
Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania.
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 43 Dimitrie, Mangeron Blvd, 700050 Iasi, Romania.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Jul 14;61(7):1271. doi: 10.3390/medicina61071271.
: Magnesium (Mg)-based materials, such as the WE43 alloy, show potential in biomedical applications owing to their advantageous mechanical properties and biodegradability; however, their quick corrosion rate and hydrogen release restrict their general clinical utilization. This study aimed to develop a novel Mg-Zn-Ca alloy system based on WE43 alloy, evaluating the influence of Zn and Ca additions on microstructure, mechanical properties, cytocompatibility, and electrochemical behavior for potential use in biodegradable orthopedic applications. : The WE43-Zn-Ca alloy system was developed by alloying standard WE43 (Mg-Y-Zr-RE) with 1.5% Zn and Ca concentrations of 0.2% (WE43_0.2Ca alloy) and 0.3% (WE43_0.3Ca alloy). Microstructural analysis was performed utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), while the chemical composition was validated through optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical properties were assessed through tribological tests. Electrochemical corrosion behavior was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization in a 3.5% NaCl solution. Cytocompatibility was assessed in vitro on MG63 cells using cell viability assays (MTT). : Alloys WE43_0.2Ca and WE43_0.3Ca exhibited refined, homogeneous microstructures with grain sizes between 70 and 100 µm, without significant structural defects. Mechanical testing indicated reduced stiffness and an elastic modulus similar to human bone (19.2-20.3 GPa), lowering the risk of stress shielding. Cytocompatibility tests confirmed non-cytotoxic behavior for alloys WE43_0.2Ca and WE43_0.3Ca, with increased cell viability and unaffected cellular morphology. : The study validates the potential of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys (especially WE43_0.3Ca) as biodegradable biomaterials for orthopedic implants due to their favorable combination of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and cytocompatibility. The optimization of these alloys contributed to obtaining an improved microstructure with a reduced degradation rate and a non-cytotoxic in vitro outcome, which supports efficient bone tissue regeneration and its integration into the body for complex biomedical applications.
镁（Mg）基材料，如WE43合金，因其有利的机械性能和生物可降解性在生物医学应用中显示出潜力；然而，它们快速的腐蚀速率和氢气释放限制了其在临床中的广泛应用。本研究旨在基于WE43合金开发一种新型的Mg-Zn-Ca合金体系，评估添加Zn和Ca对微观结构、机械性能、细胞相容性和电化学行为的影响，以用于潜在的可生物降解骨科应用。
通过将标准WE43（Mg-Y-Zr-RE）与1.5%的Zn以及0.2%（WE43_0.2Ca合金）和0.3%（WE43_0.3Ca合金）的Ca进行合金化来开发WE43-Zn-Ca合金体系。利用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）结合能量色散X射线光谱（EDS）进行微观结构分析，同时通过光发射光谱和X射线衍射（XRD）验证化学成分。通过摩擦学测试评估机械性能。在3.5%的NaCl溶液中使用动电位极化法评估电化学腐蚀行为。使用细胞活力测定法（MTT）在MG63细胞上进行体外细胞相容性评估。
合金WE43_0.2Ca和WE43_0.3Ca呈现出细化、均匀的微观结构，晶粒尺寸在70至100μm之间，无明显结构缺陷。力学测试表明其刚度降低，弹性模量与人骨相似（19.2 - 20.3 GPa），降低了应力屏蔽的风险。细胞相容性测试证实合金WE43_0.2Ca和WE43_0.3Ca无细胞毒性行为，细胞活力增加且细胞形态未受影响。
该研究验证了Mg-Zn-Ca合金（特别是WE43_0.3Ca）作为骨科植入物可生物降解生物材料的潜力，因为它们在机械性能、耐腐蚀性和细胞相容性方面具有良好的组合。这些合金的优化有助于获得改善的微观结构，具有降低的降解速率和体外无细胞毒性的结果，这支持了有效的骨组织再生及其在复杂生物医学应用中与身体的整合。
