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Buffer-regulated biocorrosion of pure magnesium

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Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) alloys are being actively investigated as potential load-bearing orthopaedic implant materials due to their biodegradability in vivo. With Mg biomaterials at an early stage in their development, the screening of alloy compositions for their biodegradation rate, and hence biocompatibility, is reliant on cost-effective in vitro methods. The use of a buffer to control pH during in vitro biodegradation is recognised as critically important as this seeks to mimic pH control as it occurs naturally in vivo. The two different types of in vitro buffer system available are based on either (i) zwitterionic organic compounds or (ii) carbonate buffers within a partial-CO2 atmosphere. This study investigated the influence of the buffering system itself on the in vitro corrosion of Mg. It was found that the less realistic zwitterion-based buffer did not form the same corrosion layers as the carbonate buffer, and was potentially affecting the behaviour of the hydrated oxide layer that forms on Mg in all aqueous environments. Consequently it was recommended that Mg in vitro experiments use the more biorealistic carbonate buffering system when possible.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support provided by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). The authors would also like to thank Jemimah Walker for her input and assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8020, New Zealand

    Nicholas T. Kirkland, Jay Waterman & Mark P. Staiger

  2. Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Nicholas T. Kirkland & Nick Birbilis

  3. Department of Anatomy & Structural Biology, University of Otago, P. O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand

    George Dias

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Otago, P. O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Tim B. F. Woodfield

  5. Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Ilam, Christchurch, 8041, New Zealand

    Richard M. Hartshorn

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  1. Nicholas T. Kirkland
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  2. Jay Waterman
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  3. Nick Birbilis
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  4. George Dias
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  7. Mark P. Staiger
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Correspondence to Mark P. Staiger.

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Nicholas T. Kirkland and Jay Waterman have contributed equally to this work

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Kirkland, N.T., Waterman, J., Birbilis, N. et al. Buffer-regulated biocorrosion of pure magnesium. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 23, 283–291 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4517-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4517-y

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