Possibility of Mg- and Ca-based intermetallic compounds as new biodegradable implant materials

Mg- or Ca-based intermetallic compounds of Mg2Ca, Mg2Si, Ca2Si and CaMgSi are investigated as possible new candidates for biodegradable implant materials, attempting to improve the degradation behavior compared to Mg and Ca alloys. The reactivity of Ca can be indeed reduced by the formation of compounds with Mg and Si, but its reactivity is still high for applications as an implant material. In contrast, Mg2Si shows a higher corrosion resistance than conventional Mg alloys while retaining biodegradability. In cytotoxicity tests under the severe condition conducted in this study, both pure Mg and Mg2Si showed relatively high cytotoxicity on preosteoblast MC3T3-E1. However, the cell viability cultured in the Mg2Si extract medium was confirmed to be better than that in a pure Mg extract medium in all the conditions investigated with the exception of the 10% extract medium, because of the lower corrosion rate of Mg2Si. The cytotoxicity derived from the Si ion was not significantly detected in the Mg2Si extract medium in the concentration level of ~70 mg/l measured in the present study. For aiming the practical application of Mg2Si as an implant material, however, its brittle nature must be improved.