A dual redox system for enhancing the biodegradability of Fe-C-Cu composite scaffold

Sheng Li; Yuqing Mo; Chengde Gao; Cijun Shuai; Shuping Peng

doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112431

A dual redox system for enhancing the biodegradability of Fe-C-Cu composite scaffold

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2022 May:213:112431. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112431. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Authors

Sheng Li¹, Yuqing Mo², Chengde Gao³, Cijun Shuai⁴, Shuping Peng⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
² NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China. Electronic address: gaochengde@csu.edu.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Institute of Additive Manufacturing, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330013, China. Electronic address: shuai@csu.edu.cn.
⁵ NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.

PMID: 35259703
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112431

Abstract

Fe-based biocomposites are emerging as temporary orthopedic implants due to natural biodegradability and high mechanical strength. Yet, the slow degradation kinetics restricts their biomedical applications. In this work, Cu-initiated redox system was established to accelerate the biodegradation of Fe-C composite scaffold prepared by selective laser melting. On the one hand, Cu induced micro-galvanic corrosion with Fe matrix due to their differences in potentials, accelerating the electron separation from Fe and further the dissolution of Fe matrix. On the other hand, Cu, as a good conductor of electron transfer, reduced the electron transfer impedance and increased the corrosion current density in Fe/C micro-galvanic cells. Consequently, the degradation rate of Fe-C scaffold was increased by 69% from 0.16 mm/y to 0.27 mm/y in the immersion tests. Additionally, the composite scaffold exhibited compression strength of 128 MPa and hardness of 148 HV, respectively. After co-culturing with the composite scaffold, MG-63 cells presented classical fusiform shape and good cell viability, indicating favorable biocompatibility. These results showed the potential applications of the developed redox systems as highly efficient initiator in accelerating the biodegradation of Fe-based biocomposites.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Fe-based biocomposites; Redox systems; Selective laser melting.

MeSH terms

Alloys* / pharmacology
Biocompatible Materials* / pharmacology
Corrosion
Materials Testing
Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

Alloys
Biocompatible Materials