Material properties of degradable alloy Fe-30Mn-0.6N and its effect on ferroptosis in synoviocytes

Ferroalloy has shown potential as implant materials, but little attention has been paid to their effects on synovial tissue ferroptosis. This study aimed to examine the mechanical properties, degradability and biocompatibility of Fe-30Mn-0.6N alloy and effects of it on synovial tissue ferroptosis. Tensile testing showed that Fe-30Mn-0.6N alloys exhibited tensile strength of 487 ± 18 MPa, yield strength of 221 ± 10 MPa, elongation of 16.9 ± 0.3% and Young's modulus of 37.7 ± 1.3 GPa. In vivo experiments, the cross-sectional area of the Fe-30Mn-0.6N alloys decreased by 73.32 ± 12.73% after 8 weeks of implantation. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface elemental analysis (EDS) showed that the Fe-30Mn-0.6N alloys had more Ca, O, C and P element deposition (p < .05). After 2, 4 and 8 weeks of implantation, no inflammatory response was observed in peri-implant synovial tissue of Fe-30Mn-0.6N and Ti-6Al-4V alloys, and Fe-30Mn-0.6N alloys did not affect the expression of the ferroptosis inhibitory gene Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Compared with the control group, 30% Fe-30Mn-0.6N alloy extracts did not affect the cell viability (p > .05) in vitro, and intracellular Fe²⁺ and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly reduced (p < .05). WB and PCR results showed that the 30% extracts increased the protein activity and mRNA expression of GPX4, FTH1 and SLC7A11 in synoviocytes, but had no effect on PTGS2 and p53. It is concluded that Fe-30Mn-0.6N had degradability and biocompatibility in peri-implant synovial tissue, and did not induce significantly ferroptosis in synoviocytes.