Hydrothermal Synthesis of Silver & Zinc Doped Bioactive Coatings on Magnesium Alloy for Potential Application in Orthopedics

Abstract

Biomaterials are artificially designed implants used in various medical applications such as orthopedic, cardiovascular and dental implants in past. These metallic implants have been selected based on biocompatibility, mechanical strength and bioresorbability to fix the bone fracture. Conventional implants i.e., Titanium, stainless steel and cobalt alloy have been implanted as bone fixation devices that needs revised surgery to remove them once the bone healed. So, they are health costly as well as cause financial burden on patients. Therefore, biodegradable and biocompatible permanent implants are required, which degrade slowly with healing process and maintain its mechanical integrity until new bone is regenerated. The ideal candidate for this is Mg and its alloys that can be used in orthopedic devices. Mg and its alloys fulfill the criterial of biocompatibility, osteogenetic ability, appropriate mechanical strength, and low elastic modulus (~40 GPa) which is close to human bone (~20 GPa). Its fast degradation rate results into release of hydrogen gas at surgery site and loss of its mechanical strength and attack of bacteria are the major challenges in orthopedic application.