A biodegradable Fe/Zn-3Cu composite with requisite properties for orthopedic applications

Xian Tong; Li Zhu; Yihao Wu; Yiting Song; Kun Wang; Shengbin Huang; Yuncang Li; Jianfeng Ma; Cuie Wen; Jixing Lin

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2022.04.048

A biodegradable Fe/Zn-3Cu composite with requisite properties for orthopedic applications

Acta Biomater. 2022 Jul 1:146:506-521. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.04.048. Epub 2022 May 14.

Authors

Xian Tong¹, Li Zhu¹, Yihao Wu¹, Yiting Song¹, Kun Wang², Shengbin Huang³, Yuncang Li⁴, Jianfeng Ma⁵, Cuie Wen⁶, Jixing Lin⁷

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
² College of Optoelectronic Manufacturing, Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College, Wenzhou 325003, China.
³ Institute of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. Electronic address: huangsb003@wmu.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.
⁵ Institute of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. Electronic address: dentistmacn@aliyun.com.
⁶ School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia. Electronic address: cuie.wen@rmit.edu.au.
⁷ Institute of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. Electronic address: jixing.lin@wmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35523413
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.04.048

Abstract

Zinc (Zn)-based metals and alloys are emerging as promising biodegradable implant materials due to their inherent biodegradability and good biocompatibility. However, this class of materials exhibits low mechanical strength and a slow degradation rate, which hinders their clinical application. Here we report the development of a new biodegradable Fe/Zn-3Cu composite fabricated by infiltration casting of a Zn-3Cu alloy into an Fe foam followed by hot-rolling. Our results indicate that the hot-rolled (HR) Fe/Zn-3Cu composite exhibited an α-Zn matrix phase, a secondary CuZn₅ phase, and an α-Fe phase. The HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite exhibited an ultimate tensile strength of 269 MPa, a tensile yield strength of 210 MPa, and an elongation of 27%. The HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite showed a degradation rate of 228 µm/year after immersion in Hanks' solution for 30 d The diluted extract of the HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite exhibited a higher cell viability than that of the HR Zn-3Cu alloy in relation to MC3T3-E1 and MG-63 cells. Furthermore, the HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite showed significantly better antibacterial ability than that of the HR Zn-3Cu alloy in relation to S. aureus. Overall, the HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite can be anticipated to be a promising biodegradable implant material for bone-fixation applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work reports a new biodegradable Fe/Zn-3Cu composite fabricated by infiltration casting and followed by hot-rolling for biodegradable bone-fixation application. Our findings demonstrated that the hot-rolled (HR) Fe/Zn-3Cu composite exhibited an ultimate tensile strength of 269.1 MPa, a tensile yield strength of 210.3 MPa, and an elongation of 26.7%. HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite showed a degradation rate of 227.6 µm/a, higher than HR Zn-3Cu alloy after immersion in Hanks' solution for 30 d The diluted extracts of the HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite exhibited a higher cell viability than HR Zn-3Cu alloy toward MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, the HR Fe/Zn-3Cu composite showed significantly better antibacterial ability than the HR Zn-3Cu alloy toward S. aureus.

Keywords: Degradation behavior; Fe foam; Galvanic corrosion; Mechanical properties; Zn-based composite.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Absorbable Implants
Alloys / pharmacology
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biocompatible Materials
Corrosion
Materials Testing
Staphylococcus aureus*
Zinc* / pharmacology

Substances

Alloys
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biocompatible Materials
Zinc