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Protective layer formation on magnesium in cell culture medium
1Chair for Surface Science and Corrosion, Department Materials Science, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martensstr. 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Summary
Magnesium corrosion layers form amorphous calcium phosphates. Layer morphology, not thickness, dictates corrosion protection, with compact layers offering superior resistance compared to porous ones. Proteins influence layer formation but not overall protection.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Corrosion Engineering
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Calcium phosphates, including hydroxyapatite (HA), precipitate on magnesium (Mg) in simulated body fluids.
- A dark layer often forms beneath HA crystals, but its composition and effect on Mg corrosion are poorly understood.
- Understanding Mg corrosion layer formation is crucial for its application in biomedical implants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphology and corrosion influence of layers formed on magnesium in cell culture media.
- To examine the effect of temperature and proteins on magnesium corrosion layer characteristics.
- To correlate layer properties with magnesium corrosion resistance.
Main Methods:
- Immersion of commercially pure magnesium (cpMg) in cell culture medium (DMEM) at room temperature and 37°C (incubator).
- Inclusion of fetal calf serum (FCS) to study protein influence.
- Surface analysis using SEM, XPS, XRD, EDX, and FTIR.
- Corrosion characterization via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentio-dynamic polarization.
Main Results:
- All layers comprised amorphous calcium phosphate compounds; HA formed at room temperature, pre-stages in the incubator.
- Layer thickness varied with immersion conditions but did not correlate with corrosion resistance.
- Layer morphology was the key factor: compact layers (room temperature) provided high corrosion protection, porous layers (incubator) showed poor performance.
- Proteins initially hindered layer formation but protein adsorption ultimately led to comparable corrosion protection.
Conclusions:
- Magnesium corrosion layer formation is influenced by temperature and proteins, resulting in varying morphologies.
- Compact calcium phosphate layer morphology is critical for enhancing magnesium corrosion resistance.
- The findings provide insights into controlling magnesium corrosion for biomedical applications.
