Evaluation of the biocompability and corrosion activity of resorbable CaMgZnYbBAu alloys

Abstract

Calcium-based alloys can be promising candidates for use as biodegradable implants because of attractive properties as mechanical, corrosive, and biocompatible. In the work, the biocompatibility authors discussed the results of the Ca₃₂Mg₁₂Zn₃₈Yb_18-xB_x (x = 0, 1, 2, 3 at.%) and Ca₃₂Mg₁₂Zn₃₈Yb_18-2xB_xAu_x (x = 1, 2 at.%) alloys. The tests were performed using a MTT assay. The corrosion behavior of such Ca-based alloys in PWE fluid at 37 °C was studied and compared with the results in Ringer's solution from previous works. Electrochemical tests were presented by open circuit potential and potentiodynamic curves. Different concentrations of boron and gold in the alloys caused changes in the corrosion results. The best corrosion resistance in PWE solution was observed for the Ca-based alloy with 2 at.% Au due to the lowest value of the corrosion current density (j_corr), equal to 10.6 µA·cm^-2. A slightly higher value of j_corr was obtained for the Ca₃₂Mg₁₂Zn₃₈Yb₁₅B₃ alloy with the lowest roughness values. The results of the cytotoxicity tests also showed that the alloy with 3 at.% boron was characterized by the highest cell viability. The investigation results discussed in the work allow us to suggest that the presented calcium alloys with 3 at.% of B, and 2 at.% of Au addition may be promising materials for the use in implantology.