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There is considerable interest in the use of magnesium alloys for biodegradable medical implants, particularly for applications where some mechanical strength is needed, such as for example as bone fixation plates. The concept is that the magnesium implant provides mechanical support while the body heals, and thereafter the magnesium implant corrodes away completely, obviating the second surgery that is necessary to remove a nonbiodegradable implant made from e.g. stainless steel or titanium.
Most of the biomedical studies have focused on two aspects: modification of the composition of magnesium alloys (types and quantity of alloys element) and characteristics of the medium (pH, concentration and type of ions). Less attention has been placed on microstructural modification with laser surface treatments or by coating that delay its dissolution.
This talk aims to analyze the present and future of biocompatible magnesium. I can advance that magnesium will continue to be used as biomaterials in the future with further improvements and new bio-functionalities in the use of metals.
Sepaker: Belén Torres Barreiro, RCC Fellow, Visiting Researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard University