In vitro evaluation of Zn–10Mg–xHA composites with the core–shell structure

Abstract

Zinc-based composites represent promising materials for orthopedic implants owing to their adjustable degradation rates and excellent biocompatibility. In this study, a series of Zn–10Mg–xHA (x = 0–5 wt.%) composites with the core–shell structure were prepared through spark plasma sintering, and their microstructural, mechanical, and in vitro properties were systematically evaluated. Results showed that the doped hydroxyapatite (HA) is concentrated at the outer edge of the MgZn₂ shell layer. The compression strength of the Zn‒10Mg‒HA composite gradually decreased with the increase of the HA content, while its corrosion rate decreased initially and then increased. The corrosion resistance of the composite with the addition of 1 wt.% HA was improved compared to that of Zn–10Mg–0HA. However, the further increase of the HA content beyond 1 wt.% resulted in a faster degradation of the composite. Moreover, the Zn–10Mg–1HA composite significantly enhanced the activity of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Based on such findings, it is revealed that the composite containing 1 wt.% HA exhibits superior overall properties and is anticipated to serve as a promising candidate for bone implant materials.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

zinc-based composite / hydroxyapatite / mechanical property / in vitro degradation behavior / biocompatibility

References

[1] Witte F . The history of biodegradable magnesium implants: a review.Acta Biomaterialia, 2010, 6(5): 1680–1692

[2] Li N, Zheng Y F . Novel magnesium alloys developed for biomedical application: a review.Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 2013, 29(6): 489–502

[3] Yang H T, Jia B, Zhang Z C, . Alloying design of biodegradable zinc as promising bone implants for load-bearing applications.Nature Communications, 2020, 11(1): 401

[4] Levy G K, Goldman J, Aghion E . The prospects of zinc as a structural material for biodegradable implants — a review paper.Metals, 2017, 7(10): 402

[5] Zhang S X, Zhang X N, Zhao C L, . Research on an Mg–Zn alloy as a degradable biomaterial.Acta Biomaterialia, 2010, 6(2): 626–640

[6] Song M S, Zeng R C, Ding Y F, . Recent advances in biodegradation controls over Mg alloys for bone fracture management: a review.Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 2019, 35(4): 535–544

[7] Kubásek J, Vojtěch D, Pospíšilová I, . Microstructure and mechanical properties of the micrograined hypoeutectic Zn–Mg alloy.International Journal of Minerals Metallurgy and Materials, 2016, 23(10): 1167–1176

[8] Xiao C, Wang L Q, Ren Y P, . Indirectly extruded biodegradable Zn–0.05wt%Mg alloy with improved strength and ductility: in vitro and in vivo studies.Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 2018, 34(9): 1618–1627

[9] Dutta S R, Passi D, Singh P, . Ceramic and non-ceramic hydroxyapatite as a bone graft material: a brief review.Irish Journal of Medical Science, 2015, 184(1): 101–106

[10] LeGeros R Z . Calcium phosphate-based osteoinductive materials.Chemical Reviews, 2008, 108(11): 4742–4753

[11] Nayak A K, Maity M, Barik H, . Bioceramic materials in bone-implantable drug delivery systems: a review.Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 2024, 95: 105524

[12] Yu X H, Tang X Y, Gohil S V, . Biomaterials for bone regenerative engineering.Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2015, 4(9): 1268–1285

[13] Sergi R, Bellucci D, Candidato R T Jr, . Bioactive Zn-doped hydroxyapatite coatings and their antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.Surface and Coatings Technology, 2018, 352: 84–91

[14] Pinc J, Miklášová E, Průša F, . Influence of processing on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of Zn/HA8 wt.% biodegradable composite. Manufacturing Technology, 2019, 19(5): 836–841

[15] Yang H T, Qu X H, Lin W J, . In vitro and in vivo studies on zinc‒hydroxyapatite composites as novel biodegradable metal matrix composite for orthopedic applications.Acta Biomaterialia, 2018, 71: 200–214

[16] Zhen Z, Xi T F, Zheng Y F . A review on in vitro corrosion performance test of biodegradable metallic materials.Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2013, 23(8): 2283–2293

[17] Oyane A, Kim H M, Furuya T, . Preparation and assessment of revised simulated body fluids.Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2003, 65A(2): 188–195

[18] Cai C H, Song R B, Wang L X, . Effect of anodic T phase on surface micro-galvanic corrosion of biodegradable Mg–Zn–Zr–Nd alloys.Applied Surface Science, 2018, 462: 243–254

[19] Zhao Y, Sun Y H, Lan W W, . Self-assembled nanosheets on NiTi alloy facilitate endothelial cell function and manipulate macrophage immune response.Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 2021, 78: 110–120

[20] Gu X F, Zhang L M, Yang M J, . Fabrication by SPS and thermophysical properties of high volume fraction SiCp/Al matrix composites.Key Engineering Materials, 2006, 313: 171–176

[21] Jaiswal S, Kumar R M, Gupta P, . Mechanical, corrosion and biocompatibility behaviour of Mg–3Zn–HA biodegradable composites for orthopaedic fixture accessories.Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2018, 78: 442–454

[22] Rezwan K, Chen Q Z, Blaker J J, . Biodegradable and bioactive porous polymer/inorganic composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.Biomaterials, 2006, 27(18): 3413–3431

[23] Zhang Z Y, Wang D, Liang L X, . Corrosion resistance of Ca–P coating induced by layer-by-layer assembled polyvinylpyrrolidone/DNA multilayer on magnesium AZ31 alloy.Frontiers of Materials Science, 2021, 15(3): 391–405

[24] Yao R H, Zhao Y Y, Han S Y, . Microstructure, mechanical properties, in vitro degradation behavior and in vivo osteogenic activities of Zn–1Mg–β-TCP composites for bone defect repair.Materials & Design, 2023, 225: 111494

[25] Zheng H R, Chen M F, Li Z, . Effects of MgO modified HA nanoparticles on the microstructure and properties of Mg–Zn–Zr/m-HA composites.Acta Metallurgica Sinica, 2017, 53(10): 1364–1376 (in Chinese)

[26] Venezuela J, Dargusch M S . The influence of alloying and fabrication techniques on the mechanical properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility of zinc: a comprehensive review.Acta Biomaterialia, 2019, 87: 1–40

[27] Lao Y H, Zhang W W, Xu X F, . Dynamic degradation behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloy in artificial plasma.Rare Metal Materials and Engineering, 2014, 43(5): 1242–1245

[28] Kubásek J, Vojtěch D, Jablonská E, . Structure, mechanical characteristics and in vitro degradation, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity of novel biodegradable Zn–Mg alloys.Materials Science and Engineering C, 2016, 58: 24–35

[29] Lee J W, Park B R, Oh S Y, . Mechanistic study on the cut-edge corrosion behaviors of Zn–Al–Mg alloy coated steel sheets in chloride containing environments.Corrosion Science, 2019, 160: 108170

[30] Kabir H, Munir K, Wen C, . Recent research and progress of biodegradable zinc alloys and composites for biomedical applications: biomechanical and biocorrosion perspectives.Bioactive Materials, 2021, 6(3): 836–879

[31] Thomas S, Birbilis N, Venkatraman M S, . Corrosion of zinc as a function of pH.Corrosion, 2012, 68(1): 015009

[32] Zhang L, He Z Y, Zhang Y Q, . Enhanced in vitro bioactivity of porous NiTi–HA composites with interconnected pore characteristics prepared by spark plasma sintering.Materials & Design, 2016, 101: 170–180

[33] Ma J, Zhao N, Zhu D H . Bioabsorbable zinc ion induced biphasic cellular responses in vascular smooth muscle cells.Scientific Reports, 2016, 6(1): 26661

[34] Zhang Z H, Liu D B, Chen Z Y, . Fabrication, in vitro and in vivo properties of β-TCP/Zn composites.Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2022, 913: 165223

Declaration of competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

The work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52375370), the Natural Science Research General Program of Shanxi Province, China (No. 202103021224048), the Shanxi Province Patent Transformation Project (No. 202406019), and the Shanxi-Zhejiang University New Materials and Chemical Research Institute Scientific Research Project (No. 2022SX-TD025).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 Higher Education Press