Experimental study on novel biodegradable Zn–Fe–Si alloys

Abstract

Bioabsorbable metals are increasingly attracting attention for their potential use as materials for degradable implant devices. Zinc (Zn) alloys have shown great promises due to their good biocompatibility and favorable degradation rate. However, it has been difficult to maintain an appropriate balance among strength, ductility, biocompatibility, and corrosion rate for Zn alloys historically. In this study, the microstructure, chemical composition, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and corrosion rate of a new ternary zinc−iron–silicon (Zn–Fe–Si) alloy system was studied as a novel material for potential biodegradable implant applications. The results demonstrated that the in situ formed Fe–Si intermetallic phases enhanced the mechanical strength of the material while maintaining a favorable ductility. With Fe–Si reinforcements, the microhardness of the Zn alloys was enhanced by up to 43%. The tensile strength was increased by up to 76% while elongation to failure remained above 30%. Indirect cytotoxicity testing showed the Zn‐Fe‐Si system had good biocompatibility. Immersion testing revealed the corrosion rate of Zn–Fe–Si system was not statistically different from pure Zn. To understand the underlying phase formation mechanism, the reaction process in this ternary system during the processing was also studied via phase evolution and Gibbs free energy analysis. The results suggest the Zn–Fe–Si ternary system is a promising new material for bioabsorbable metallic medical devices.

Effect of TiC Nanoparticles on a Zn-Al-Cu System for Biodegradable Cardiovascular Stent Applications

“…With the combination of superior and stable mechanical performance, suitable CR, and good biocompatibility, Zn-2Al-4Cu-TiC reported in this study is a strong candidate for biodegradable implant applications, especially biodegradable cardiovascular stents. As shown in Figure , common alloying elements used in Zn for biodegradable materials, such as Mg, − Al, , Li, , Cu, , Ag, and Fe, , were listed with their tensile properties (UTS and ductility). Compared with other biodegradable Zn alloys undergoing hot work, Zn-2Al-4Cu-TiC reported in this study exhibits superior mechanical properties, showing the greater potential of this novel material system for biodegradable medical device applications.…”

Cytotoxicity of Biodegradable Zinc and Its Alloys: A Systematic Review

“…[38,61,64], with Zn-Mg and Zn-Cu being the predominant types. A small portion of Zn alloys comprised additional Al [47], Fe [49,50,84,85], Ca [58,77,88], Ge [55], Ti [54,87], Sr [65,72,76], Si [84], Zr [31,33], Sn [47], and V [59]. In addition, pure Zn was alloyed with rare-earth elements (REEs) such as Er, Dy, Ho, Ce, and Gd [57,68,78].…”

The Year 2022 in biomaterials research: A perspective from the editors of six leading journals

“…), investigations into the degradation of metals in orthopedics, cardiovascular 81 and dentistry in vivo and in vitro (e.g., CoCrMo, Ti alloys and stainless steels), metals used for antibacterial applications, the use of metallic (Au) nanoparticles for therapeutic and drug delivery applications, and the use of 3D printing of metals. Biodegradable metals and their processes and interactions of degradation were a prominent focus in this past year, including in 3D printed Fe‐based scaffolds 82 and alloys, 83 zinc alloys, 84 magnesium alloys 85,86 and others.…”