Magnesium based implants: Alloying and coating strategies for improvement in its biomechanical and biocorrosion properties

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) based materials show great promise as temporary implant applications owing to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. These characteristics remove the risk of subsequent surgery to extract the implant once the process of bone tissue healing is finished. Additionally, its density and elastic modulus are near to those of natural bone, thereby reducing the stress-shielding effect. Mg is mostly recognized for its osteoconductive abilities, which implies that it encourages the generation of fresh bone tissue. It also has antimicrobial properties, which lower the possibility of infections leading to implant failure. Moreover, the rapid bio-corrosion of pure Mg in the presence of physiological fluids is a serious concern. The implant's mechanical integrity deteriorates as a result of this corrosion before the surrounding tissue has completely recovered. To address these issues, this review focused on approaches, including alloying, the creation of composites, and surface coating, which can increase their biomechanical and bio-corrosion properties. In vitro analysis of biomechanical and bio-corrosion characteristics of newly manufactured Mg-based implant material is presented in this article. In addition to this application, a list of approved devices made from Mg-based material is highlighted. Furthermore, the present challenges and prospects for future research are also discussed.