Mechanical properties, degradation behaviors and biocompatibility evaluation of a biodegradable Zn-Mg-Cu alloy for cardiovascular implants

• Published in: Materials letters 2019-01, Vol.234, p.294-297
• Main Authors: Lin, Song, Wang, Qilong, Yan, Xinhao, Ran, Xiaolin, Wang, Linping, Zhou, Jack G., Hu, Tingzhang, Wang, Guixue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Biocompatibility; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Cardiovascular disease; Chemical compounds; Corrosion; Corrosion rate; Corrosion tests; Electrochemical corrosion; Embryos; Extrusion; Immersion tests (corrosion); In vivo methods and tests; Inflammatory response; Magnesium base alloys; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Stents; Subcutaneous tissue; Surgical implants; Transplants & implants; Ultimate tensile strength; Yield strength; Zebrafish; Zebrafish embryos; Zinc base alloys; Zn-based alloy
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2018.09.092

•Extruded Zn-0.02 Mg-0.02Cu alloy had superior mechanical properties.•The Zn-based alloy exhibited no toxicity in zebrafish embryos model.•The Zn-based alloy showed good biocompatibility in vivo subcutaneous tissue. In this study, hot extruded pure Zn and Zn-0.02Mg-0.02Cu alloy were prepared. Compared with the pure Zn, the tensile yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and hardness of the Zn-based alloy were significantly improved, reaching 216.29 ± 3.27 MPa, 262.25 ± 5.02 MPa and 74.40 ± 1.84 HV, respectively, satisfying the criteria of biodegradable stents. Electrochemical corrosion and immersion test showed that the corrosion rates of the Zn-based alloy were higher than those of pure Zn. In addition, the Zn-based alloy exhibited excellent biocompatibility for the development of zebrafish embryos and in vivo subcutaneous tissue without severe inflammatory response. These results indicate that the novel Zn-based alloy has a huge potential in cardiovascular stents.