Electrochemical characterization and in-vitro bio-assessment of AZ31B and AZ91E alloys as biodegradable implant materials

The degradation of magnesium alloys, AZ31B and AZ91E, are under review due to a their ability to degrade under physiological conditions and successively yield an oxidized biocompatible by-product which can safely be absorbed by the body. By exploiting the biodegradability of magnesium alloys, the prospects of developing an unprecedented class of implant are at hand. To do so however, the rate of corrosion of the alloys must be modified in order to better suit physiological conditions. Therefore, anodization was carried out on AZ31B and AZ91E specimens to alter the surface chemistry to reduce the corrosion rates and improve biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle meter, were used to characterize and compare the surfaces of untreated and anodized magnesium alloys. Corrosion behavior was evaluated by electrochemical tests using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, to verify changes in corrosion rates as a result of anodization. Finally, a bio-assessment using MTS assays and fluorescent microscopy were carried out to ensure that the anodization process had no compromise on the biocompatibility of the magnesium alloys. The study indicated that the anodization process did alter the surface chemistry of the alloys, yielding slower corrosion rates, while causing no adverse effects in regards to biocompatibility.