Lili Tan

Antibacterial Properties of Magnesium In Vitro and in an In Vivo Model of Implant-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection

ABSTRACT Periprosthetic infection remains a challenging clinical complication. We investigated the antibacterial properties of pure (99.9%) magnesium (Mg) in vitro and in an in vivo rat model of implant-related infection. Mg was highly effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-induced osteomyelitis and improved new peri-implant bone formation. Bacterial icaA and agr RNAIII transcription levels were also assessed to characterize the mechanism underlying the antibacterial properties of the Mg implant.

Study on compression behavior of porous magnesium used as bone tissue engineering scaffolds

In this work, porous magnesium (Mg) with a three-dimensional open-cellular structure, potentially employed as bone tissue engineering scaffolds, was fabricated by the mechanical perforation method. The influences of porosity, pore size and pore arrangement on compressive behavior and the anisotropy of new porous Mg were analyzed theoretically using orthogonal arrays and the finite element method (FEM). The results showed that the parameters of porosity, pore size and pore arrangement had different effects on the compressive properties. The compressive strength could be improved by optimizing these parameters. The anisotropy of porous Mg was also verified in this study. The theoretical results showed good agreement with the experimental ones before the strain reaches 0.038.

In vivo degradation and tissue compatibility of ZK60 magnesium alloy with micro-arc oxidation coating in a transcortical model

Magnesium alloys were studied extensively as a class of biodegradable metallic materials for medical applications. In the present study, ZK60 magnesium alloy was considered as a candidate and the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment was adopted in order to reduce the degradation rate of the alloy. The in vivo degradation behaviors and biological compatibilities of ZK60 alloys with and without MAO treatment were studied with a transcortical model in rabbits. The implant and the surrounding bone tissues were characterized by CT, SEM and histological methods at 2, 4 and 12 weeks after the implantation. The results demonstrated that both the bare and MAO-coated ZK60 alloys completely degraded within 12 weeks in this animal model. The MAO coating decreased the degradation rate of ZK60 alloy and enhanced the response of the surrounding tissues within the first 2 weeks. After then, an acceleration of the degradation of the MAO-coated ZK60 alloy was observed. It was found that the alloy could be degraded before the complete degradation of the MAO coating, leading to the local peeling off of the coating. An in vivo degradation mechanism of the MAO-coated ZK60 alloy was proposed based on the experimental results. The severe localized degradation caused by the peeling off of the MAO coating was the main reason for the acceleration of the degradation of the MAO-coated ZK60 alloy.

Enhanced Efficacy of Sirolimus-Eluting Bioabsorbable Magnesium Alloy Stents in the Prevention of Restenosis

Purpose To determine the efficacy of sirolimus-eluting bioabsorbable magnesium alloy stents (SEBMAS) in restenosis prevention. Methods A balloon-expandable bioabsorbable magnesium alloy stent (BMAS) was created and coated with biodegradable poly(lactic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate) that contained the antiproliferative drug sirolimus (140±40 μg/cm2). Both the uncoated BMAS and the coated SEBMAS were deployed 2 cm apart in balloon-injured infrarenal abdominal aortas of 20 New Zealand white rabbits. The stented aortic segments were removed at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days (5 rabbits per interval) after implantation. The average stent strut sectional area of each group was measured to evaluate the degree of magnesium corrosion and to forecast the biodegradation time profile of the magnesium stent. Histology and histopathology of the sectioned stented aortic segments were performed to evaluate neointima formation, endothelialization, and inflammation. Results The SEBMAS degraded gradually after being implanted into the rabbit aorta, and total biocorrosion occurred after ∼120 days. In all groups, the lumen area was significantly greater, but the neointimal area was significantly smaller in SEBMAS segments compared with the uncoated BMAS segments (p<0.05) at all time points. There was no significant difference in the injury or inflammation scores between the groups. Endothelialization was delayed at 30 days in the SEBMAS segments vs. the uncoated BMAS segments. Conclusion SEBMAS further reduces intimal hyperplasia and improves the lumen area when compared to uncoated BMAS; however, it delays vascular healing and endothelialization.

Fabrication and Characterization of Ca–Mg–P Containing Coating on Pure Magnesium

A biodegradable Ca-P coating mainly consisting of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) was fabricated on pure magnesium via the chemical deposition in a simulated Hanks solution. The method significantly accelerated the coating formation on magnesium. Moreover, the morphology, phase/chemical composition, the coating formation mechanism as well as degradation behavior in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the coating had three layers and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the coating mainly contained Ca-3(PO4)(2) and (Ca,Mg)(3)(PO4)(2). Electrochemical test showed that the corrosion current density (I-corr) of the coated Mg was decreased by about one order of magnitude as compared to that of pure magnesium. The immersion test indicated that the coating could obviously reduce the degradation rate.

Research on the corrosion resistance and formation of double-layer calcium phosphate coating on AZ31 obtained at varied temperatures

In this study, the effect of varied processing temperatures on the corrosion resistance and formation of dual-layer calcium phosphate coating on AZ31 was investigated. The microstructure, phase and morphology were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. The in vitro degradation behavior of coated AZ31 samples were evaluated by electrochemical and immersion tests in simulated body fluid. The results showed that the varied processing temperatures responded to different microstructure, phase and morphology; and a dual-layer coating was formed during the deposition process at 70°C. Meanwhile the higher processing temperature induced a faster coating formation rate and greater surface coverage. The in vitro degradation tests in simulated body fluid indicated that the corrosion rates of AZ31 alloy were effectively decreased with increasing processing temperature, which was attributed to the denser protective coating. The formation mechanism of dual-layer coating influenced by deposition temperature was proposed.

Comparison study of different coatings on degradation performance and cell response of Mg-Sr alloy

To solve the problem of rapid degradation for magnesium-based implants, surface modification especially coating method is widely studied and showed the great potential for clinical application. However, as concerned to the further application and medical translation for biodegradable magnesium alloys, there are still lack of data and comparisons among different coatings on their degradation and biological properties. This work studied three commonly used coatings on Mg-Sr alloy, including micro-arc oxidation coating, electrodeposition coating and chemical conversion coating, and compared these coatings for requirements of favorable degradation and biological performances, how each of these coating systems has performed. Finally the mechanism for the discrepancy between these coatings is proposed. The results indicate that the micro-arc oxidation coating on Mg-Sr alloy exhibited the best corrosion resistance and cell response among these coatings, and is proved to be more suitable for the orthopedic application.

Effect of hydrion evolution by polylactic-co-glycolic acid coating on degradation rate of pure iron

For biodegradable iron coronary stents, the major problem is the low degradation rate in body environment. In this study, a new strategy was proposed to increase the degradation rate of iron in vitro. The hydrion evolution was intended to be introduced into the degradation system to increase the degradation rate. To realize this strategy, polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) was coated onto the surface of pure iron. The degradation process and mechanism of pure iron coated with PLGA were investigated. The results showed that iron coated with PLGA exhibited higher degradation rate in the static immersion test all along. With the degradation of PLGA, the oligomers of PLGA could release abundant H(+) which could dissolve the ferrous oxide to make the electrolyte and oxygen to reach the surface of iron again and simultaneity trigger the hydrion evolution at the middle stage of the degradation. The study also revealed that the solution ions failed to permeate the PLGA coating and the deposition of calcium and phosphorus in the degradation layer was inhibited which further enhanced the degradation.

A MANGANESE OXIDE CONTAINED COATING FOR BIODEGRADABLE AZ31B MAGNESIUM ALLOY

A manganese oxide contained coating was prepared on biodegradable AZ31B magnesium alloy to control the degradation of AZ31B and improve its biocompatibility. Morphology, composition, and corrosion resistance of the coating were studied. The SEM observations showed that the coating was approximately 4–6 μm in thickness with net-like microcracks. The XPS analysis indicated that the coating was mainly composed of MgO, Mg(OH)2, MnO2, Mn2O3, and Mn3O4. It was found that AZ31B with such coating showed better corrosion resistance in simulated blood plasma through electrochemical and immersion tests. The hemolytic assay indicated that the treated AZ31B had no hemolytic effect.

Study on corrosion resistance of pure magnesium with CaSiO3 contained coating in NaCl solution

A composite coating was fabricated on pure magnesium by hydrothermal treatment in order to reduce its degradation in body environment. The coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD pattern showed that the main composition of the coating was a mixture of CaSiO3, MgSiO3 and Mg(OH)(2). Electrochemical test showed that the corrosion current density (i(corr)) of the coated magnesium was decreased by about two orders of magnitude compared with that of the bare magnesium, and the EIS measurement also showed that the corrosion resistant performance of the coated magnesium was significantly enhanced. Meanwhile, weight loss test showed that the weight loss of the coated magnesium was lower than that of the bare magnesium. Hence, the present study indicated that the composite coating could greatly slow down the degradation of pure magnesium.