Renguo Guan

Electrodeposition of hydroxyapatite coating on Mg‐4.0Zn‐1.0Ca‐0.6Zr alloy and in vitro evaluation of degradation, hemolysis, and cytotoxicity

A novel biodegradable Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt %) alloy was successfully produced using a series of metallurgical processes; including melting, casting, rolling, and heat treatment. The hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the alloy sheets increased to 71.2HV and 320 MPa after rolling and then aging for 12 h at 175°C. These mechanical properties were sufficient for load-bearing orthopedic implants. A hydroxyapatite (HA) coating was deposited on the Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt %) alloy using a novel coating process combining alkali heat pretreatment, electrodeposition, and alkali heat posttreatment. The microstructure, composition, and phases of the Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt %) alloy and HA coating were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The degradation, hemolysis, and cytocompatibility of the HA-coated and uncoated Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt %) alloy were studied in vitro. The corrosion potential (E(corr)) of Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr alloy (-1.72 V) was higher than Mg (-1.95 V), Mg-0.6Ca alloy (-1.91 V) and Mg-1.0Ca alloy (-1.97 V), indicating the Mg-Zn-Ca-Zr alloy would be more corrosion resistant. The initial corrosion potential of the HA-coated Mg alloy sample (-1.51 V) was higher than the uncoated sample (-1.72 V). The hemolysis rates of the HA-coated and uncoated Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt %) alloy samples were both <5%, which met the requirements for implant materials. The HA-coated and uncoated Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt %) alloy samples demonstrated the same cytotoxicity score as the negative control. The HA-coated samples showed a slightly greater relative growth rate (RGR%) of fibroblasts than the uncoated samples. Both the HA-coated and uncoated Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt %) alloy provided evidence of acceptable cytocompatibility for medical applications.

Development and evaluation of a magnesium–zinc–strontium alloy for biomedical applications — Alloy processing, microstructure, mechanical properties, and biodegradation

A new biodegradable magnesium-zinc-strontium (Mg-Zn-Sr) alloy was developed and studied for medical implant applications. This first study investigated the alloy processing (casting, rolling, and heat treatment), microstructures, mechanical properties, and degradation properties in simulated body fluid (SBF). Aging treatment of the ZSr41 alloy at 175 °C for 8h improved the mechanical properties when compared to those of the as-cast alloy. Specifically, the aged ZSr41 alloy had an ultimate tensile strength of 270 MPa, Vickers hardness of 71.5 HV, and elongation at failure of 12.8%. The mechanical properties of the ZSr41 alloy were superior as compared with those of pure magnesium and met the requirements for load-bearing medical implants. Furthermore, the immersion of the ZSr41 alloy in SBF showed a degradation mode that progressed cyclically, alternating between pitting and localized corrosion. The steady-state average degradation rate of the aged ZSr41 alloy in SBF was 0.96 g/(m(2)·hr), while the pH of SBF immersion solution increased. The corrosion current density of the ZSr41 alloy in SBF solution was 0.41 mA/mm(2), which was much lower than 1.67 mA/mm(2) for pure Mg under the same conditions. In summary, compared to pure Mg, the mechanical properties of the new ZSr41 alloy improved while the degradation rate decreased due to the addition of Zn and Sr alloying elements and specific processing conditions. The superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the new ZSr41 alloy make it a promising alloy for next-generation implant applications.

An in vivo study on the metabolism and osteogenic activity of bioabsorbable Mg–1Sr alloy

UNLABELLED Previous studies indicated that local delivery of strontium effectively increased bone quality and formation around osseointegrating implants. Therefore, implant materials with long-lasting and controllable strontium release are avidly pursued. The central objective of the present study was to investigate the in vivo biocompatibility, metabolism and osteogenic activity of the bioabsorbable Mg-1Sr (wt.%, nominal composition) alloy for bone regeneration. The general corrosion rate of the alloy implant as a femoral fracture fixation device was 0.55±0.03mm·y(-1) (mean value±standard deviation) in New Zealand White rabbits which meet the bone implantation requirements and can be adjusted by material processing methods. All rabbits survived and the histological evaluation showed no abnormal physiology or diseases 16 weeks post-implantation. The degradation process of the alloy did not significantly alter 16 primary indexes of hematology, cardiac damage, inflammation, hepatic functions and metabolic process. Significant increases in peri-implant bone volume and direct bone-to-implant contact (48.3%±15.3% and 15.9%±5.6%, respectively) as well as the expressions of four osteogenesis related genes (runt-related transcription factor 2, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and collagen, type I, alpha 1) were observed after 16 weeks implantation for the Mg-1Sr group when compared to the pure Mg group. The sound osteogenic properties of the Mg-1Sr alloy by long-lasting and controllable Sr release suggesting a very attractive clinical potential. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Sr (strontium) has exhibited pronounced effects to reduce the bone fracture risk in osteoporotic patients. Nonetheless, long-lasting local Sr release is hardly achieved by traditional methods like surface treatment. Therefore, a more efficient Sr local delivery platform is in high clinical demand. The stable and adjustable degradation process of Mg alloy makes it an ideal Sr delivery platform. We combine the well-known osteogenic properties of strontium with magnesium to manufacture bioabsorbable Mg-1Sr alloy with stable Sr release based on our previous studies. The in vitro and in vivo results both showed the alloys suitable degradation rate and biocompatibility, and the sound osteogenic properties and stimulation effect on bone formation suggest its very attractive clinical potential.

Investigation of magnesium-zinc-calcium alloys and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell response in direct culture.

Crystalline Mg-Zn-Ca ternary alloys have recently attracted significant interest for biomedical implant applications due to their promising biocompatibility, bioactivity, biodegradability and mechanical properties. The objective of this study was to characterize as-cast Mg-xZn-0.5Ca (x=0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0wt.%) alloys, and determine the adhesion and morphology of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) at the interface with the Mg-xZn-0.5Ca alloys. The direct culture method (i.e. seeding cells directly onto the surface of the sample) was established in this study to probe the highly dynamic cell-substrate interface and thus to elucidate the mechanisms of BMSC responses to dynamic alloy degradation. The results showed that the BMSC adhesion density on these alloys was similar to the cell-only positive control and the BMSC morphology appeared more anisotropic on the rapidly degrading alloy surfaces in comparison with the cell-only positive control. Importantly, neither culture media supplemented with up to 27.6mM Mg(2+) ions nor media intentionally adjusted up to alkaline pH 9 induced any detectable adverse effects on BMSC responses. We speculated that degradation-induced dynamic surface topography played an important role in modulating cell morphology at the interface. This study presents a clinically relevant in vitro model for screening bioresorbable alloys, and provides useful design guidelines for determining the degradation rate of implants made of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys.

Cytocompatibility and early inflammatory response of human endothelial cells in direct culture with Mg-Zn-Sr alloys

Crystalline Mg-Zinc (Zn)-Strontium (Sr) ternary alloys consist of elements naturally present in the human body and provide attractive mechanical and biodegradable properties for a variety of biomedical applications. The first objective of this study was to investigate the degradation and cytocompatibility of four Mg-4Zn-xSr alloys (x=0.15, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5wt%; designated as ZSr41A, B, C, and D respectively) in the direct culture with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. The second objective was to investigate, for the first time, the early-stage inflammatory response in cultured HUVECs as indicated by the induction of vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). The results showed that the 24-h in vitro degradation of the ZSr41 alloys containing a β-phase with a Zn/Sr at% ratio ∼1.5 was significantly faster than the ZSr41 alloys with Zn/Sr at% ∼1. Additionally, the adhesion density of HUVECs in the direct culture but not in direct contact with the ZSr41 alloys for up to 24h was not adversely affected by the degradation of the alloys. Importantly, neither culture media supplemented with up to 27.6mM Mg2+ ions nor media intentionally adjusted up to alkaline pH 9 induced any detectable adverse effects on HUVEC responses. In contrast, the significantly higher, yet non-cytotoxic, Zn2+ ion concentration from the degradation of ZSr41D alloy was likely the cause for the initially higher VCAM-1 expression on cultured HUVECs. Lastly, analysis of the HUVEC-ZSr41 interface showed near-complete absence of cell adhesion directly on the sample surface, most likely caused by either a high local alkalinity, change in surface topography, and/or surface composition. The direct culture method used in this study was proposed as a valuable tool for studying the design aspects of Zn-containing Mg-based biomaterials in vitro, in order to engineer solutions to address current shortcomings of Mg alloys for vascular device applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Magnesium (Mg) alloys specifically designed for biodegradable implant applications have been the focus of biomedical research since the early 2000s. Physicochemical properties of Mg alloys make these metallic biomaterials excellent candidates for temporary biodegradable implants in orthopedic and cardiovascular applications. As Mg alloys continue to be investigated for biomedical applications, it is necessary to understand whether Mg-based materials or the alloying elements have the intrinsic ability to direct an immune response to improve implant integration while avoiding cell-biomaterial interactions leading to chronic inflammation and/or foreign body reactions. The present study utilized the direct culture method to investigate for the first time the in vitro transient inflammatory activation of endothelial cells induced by the degradation products of Zn-containing Mg alloys.

In vitro interactions of blood, platelet, and fibroblast with biodegradable magnesium-zinc-strontium alloys

Magnesium (Mg) alloy is an attractive class of metallic biomaterial for cardiovascular applications due to its biodegradability and mechanical properties. In this study, we investigated the degradation in blood, thrombogenicity, and cytocompatibility of Magnesium-Zinc-Strontium (Mg-Zn-Sr) alloys, specifically four Mg-4 wt % Zn-xSr (x = 0.15, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt %) alloys, together with pure Mg control and relevant reference materials for cardiovascular applications. Human whole blood and platelet rich plasma (PRP) were used as the incubation media to investigate the degradation behavior of the Mg-Zn-Sr alloys. The results showed that the PRP had a greater pH increase and greater concentration of Mg(2+) ions when compared with whole blood after 2 h of incubation with the same respective Mg alloys, suggesting that the Mg alloys degraded faster in PRP than in whole blood. The Mg alloy with 4 wt % Zn and 0.15 wt % Sr (named as ZSr41A) was identified as the most promising alloy for cardiovascular stent applications, because it showed slower degradation and less thrombogenicity, as indicated by the lower concentrations of Mg(2+) ions released and less deposition of platelets. Additionally, ZSr41 alloys were cytocompatible with fibroblasts in direct exposure culture in which the cells adhered and proliferated around the samples, with no statistical difference in cell adhesion density compared with the blank reference. Future studies on the ZSr41 alloys are necessary to investigate their direct interactions with other important cells in cardiovascular system, such as vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells.

A Review on Grain Refinement of Aluminum Alloys: Progresses, Challenges and Prospects

Aluminum becomes the most popular nonferrous metal and is widely used in many fields such as packaging, building transportation and electrical materials due to its rich resource, light weight, good mechanical properties, suitable corrosion resistance and excellent electrical conductivity. Grain refinement, which is obtained by changing the size of grain structure by different techniques, is a preferred method to improve simultaneously the strength and plasticity of metallic materials. Therefore, grain refining of aluminum is regarded as a key technique in aluminum processing industry. Up to now, there have been a number of techniques for aluminum grain refining. All the techniques can be classified as four categories as follows: grain refining by vibration and stirring during solidification, rapid solidification, the addition of grain refiner and severe plastic deformation. Each of them has its own merits and demerits as well as applicable conditions, and there are still some arguments in the understanding of the mechanisms of these techniques. In this article, the research progresses and challenges encountered in the present techniques and the future research issues and directions are summarized.

A Novel Semisolid Rheo-Rolling Process of AZ31 Alloy with Vibrating Sloping Plate

A novel semisolid rheo-rolling process of AZ31 alloy was achieved by combining the shape rolling mill with the vibrating sloping plate device. The process is expected to be developed as a high-speed, semisolid roll-casting technique. During the process, due to the strong cooling rate by the sloping plate and stirrings caused by vibration and metal flow, three mechanisms—heterogenous nucleation, eruptive nucleation, and nucleus multiplication—exist, which lead to fine spherical or rosette grains formation. Two grain-growing styles, direct globular growth, dendrite growth, and fracture happen on the sloping plate surface, which also devotes to the fine non dendrite formation. During the rolling process, the solid grain of the slurry is elongated a little, and its original shape is basically maintained. If the casting temperature is too high, the liquid segregation occurs. At the casting temperature range of 650–690°C, AZ31 alloy strip with a cross section size of 4 × 160 mm was prepared by the proposed process. The product has good quality surface and homogenous microstructure. The mechanical properties of the product are higher than that produced by conventional roll casting.

Effect of Zr and Sc on mechanical properties and electrical conductivities of Al wires

Abstract In order to obtain the Al wires with good mechanical properties and high electrical conductivities, conductive wires of Al–0.16Zr, Al–0.16Sc, Al–0.12Sc–0.04Zr (mass fraction, %) and pure Al (99.996%) were produced with the diameter of 9.5 mm by continuous rheo-extrusion technology, and the extruded materials were heat treated and analyzed. The results show that the separate additions of 0.16% Sc and 0.16% Zr to pure Al improve the ultimate tensile strength but reduce the electrical conductivity, and the similar trend is found in the Al–0.12Sc–0.04Zr alloy. After the subsequent heat treatment, the wire with the optimum comprehensive properties is Al–0.12Sc–0.04Zr alloy, of which the ultimate tensile strength and electrical conductivity reach 160 MPa and 64.03% (IACS), respectively.

Microstructure formation mechanism during a novel semisolid rheo-rolling process of AZ91 magnesium alloy

A novel semisolid rheo-rolling process of AZ91 alloy was proposed. The microstructure formation mechanism of AZ91 magnesium alloy during the process was studied. The results reveal that the eruptive nucleation and the heterogeneous nucleation exist. During the grain growth process, the grain breakage took place and transformed into fine spherical or rosette grains on the sloping plate gradually, the other grain growth style is direct globular growth. Due to the secondary crystallization of the remnant liquids in the roll gap, the microstructure of the strip becomes finer with the increment of the casting temperature from 650 °C to 690 °C. But when the casting temperature reached 710 °C, a part of the liquid alloy transformed into the eutectic phases, and the primary grains ripened to form coarse dendrites. In the casting temperature range from 650 °C to 690 °C, AZ91 alloy strip with fine spherical or rosette grains was prepared by the proposed process.