The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic Applications
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Magnesium (Mg)-based materials, such as the WE43 alloy, show potential in biomedical applications owing to their advantageous mechanical properties and biodegradability; however, their quick corrosion rate and hydrogen release restrict their general clin...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Mircea Cătălin Ivănescu Corneliu Munteanu Ramona Cimpoeșu Maria Daniela Vlad Bogdan Istrate Fabian Cezar Lupu Eusebiu Viorel Șindilar Alexandru Vlasa Cristinel Ionel Stan Maria Larisa Ivănescu Georgeta Zegan |
| author_facet | Mircea Cătălin Ivănescu Corneliu Munteanu Ramona Cimpoeșu Maria Daniela Vlad Bogdan Istrate Fabian Cezar Lupu Eusebiu Viorel Șindilar Alexandru Vlasa Cristinel Ionel Stan Maria Larisa Ivănescu Georgeta Zegan |
| author_sort | Mircea Cătălin Ivănescu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Magnesium (Mg)-based materials, such as the WE43 alloy, show potential in biomedical applications owing to their advantageous mechanical properties and biodegradability; however, their quick corrosion rate and hydrogen release restrict their general clinical utilization. This study aimed to develop a novel Mg-Zn-Ca alloy system based on WE43 alloy, evaluating the influence of Zn and Ca additions on microstructure, mechanical properties, cytocompatibility, and electrochemical behavior for potential use in biodegradable orthopedic applications. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: The WE43-Zn-Ca alloy system was developed by alloying standard WE43 (Mg–Y–Zr–RE) with 1.5% Zn and Ca concentrations of 0.2% (WE43_0.2Ca alloy) and 0.3% (WE43_0.3Ca alloy). Microstructural analysis was performed utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), while the chemical composition was validated through optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical properties were assessed through tribological tests. Electrochemical corrosion behavior was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization in a 3.5% NaCl solution. Cytocompatibility was assessed in vitro on MG63 cells using cell viability assays (MTT). <i>Results</i>: Alloys WE43_0.2Ca and WE43_0.3Ca exhibited refined, homogeneous microstructures with grain sizes between 70 and 100 µm, without significant structural defects. Mechanical testing indicated reduced stiffness and an elastic modulus similar to human bone (19.2–20.3 GPa), lowering the risk of stress shielding. Cytocompatibility tests confirmed non-cytotoxic behavior for alloys WE43_0.2Ca and WE43_0.3Ca, with increased cell viability and unaffected cellular morphology. <i>Conclusions</i>: The study validates the potential of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys (especially WE43_0.3Ca) as biodegradable biomaterials for orthopedic implants due to their favorable combination of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and cytocompatibility. The optimization of these alloys contributed to obtaining an improved microstructure with a reduced degradation rate and a non-cytotoxic in vitro outcome, which supports efficient bone tissue regeneration and its integration into the body for complex biomedical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-af20a3db97cb4eef9d6cedff28c6f41c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-af20a3db97cb4eef9d6cedff28c6f41c2025-08-20T03:07:58ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-07-01617127110.3390/medicina61071271The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic ApplicationsMircea Cătălin Ivănescu0Corneliu Munteanu1Ramona Cimpoeșu2Maria Daniela Vlad3Bogdan Istrate4Fabian Cezar Lupu5Eusebiu Viorel Șindilar6Alexandru Vlasa7Cristinel Ionel Stan8Maria Larisa Ivănescu9Georgeta Zegan10Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 43 Dimitrie, Mangeron Blvd, 700050 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 41 Dimitrie, Mangeron Blvd, 700050 Iasi, RomaniaTRANSCEND Research Centre, Regional Institute of Oncology, Str. G-ral Henri Mathias Berthelot 2-4, 700483 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 43 Dimitrie, Mangeron Blvd, 700050 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 43 Dimitrie, Mangeron Blvd, 700050 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iasi University of Life Sciences, Ion Ionescu de la Brad, 700490 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Dental Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iasi University of Life Sciences, Ion Ionescu de la Brad, 700490 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Magnesium (Mg)-based materials, such as the WE43 alloy, show potential in biomedical applications owing to their advantageous mechanical properties and biodegradability; however, their quick corrosion rate and hydrogen release restrict their general clinical utilization. This study aimed to develop a novel Mg-Zn-Ca alloy system based on WE43 alloy, evaluating the influence of Zn and Ca additions on microstructure, mechanical properties, cytocompatibility, and electrochemical behavior for potential use in biodegradable orthopedic applications. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: The WE43-Zn-Ca alloy system was developed by alloying standard WE43 (Mg–Y–Zr–RE) with 1.5% Zn and Ca concentrations of 0.2% (WE43_0.2Ca alloy) and 0.3% (WE43_0.3Ca alloy). Microstructural analysis was performed utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), while the chemical composition was validated through optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical properties were assessed through tribological tests. Electrochemical corrosion behavior was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization in a 3.5% NaCl solution. Cytocompatibility was assessed in vitro on MG63 cells using cell viability assays (MTT). <i>Results</i>: Alloys WE43_0.2Ca and WE43_0.3Ca exhibited refined, homogeneous microstructures with grain sizes between 70 and 100 µm, without significant structural defects. Mechanical testing indicated reduced stiffness and an elastic modulus similar to human bone (19.2–20.3 GPa), lowering the risk of stress shielding. Cytocompatibility tests confirmed non-cytotoxic behavior for alloys WE43_0.2Ca and WE43_0.3Ca, with increased cell viability and unaffected cellular morphology. <i>Conclusions</i>: The study validates the potential of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys (especially WE43_0.3Ca) as biodegradable biomaterials for orthopedic implants due to their favorable combination of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and cytocompatibility. The optimization of these alloys contributed to obtaining an improved microstructure with a reduced degradation rate and a non-cytotoxic in vitro outcome, which supports efficient bone tissue regeneration and its integration into the body for complex biomedical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1271Mg alloysWE43 alloybiodegradable implantscytocompatibility |
| spellingShingle | Mircea Cătălin Ivănescu Corneliu Munteanu Ramona Cimpoeșu Maria Daniela Vlad Bogdan Istrate Fabian Cezar Lupu Eusebiu Viorel Șindilar Alexandru Vlasa Cristinel Ionel Stan Maria Larisa Ivănescu Georgeta Zegan The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic Applications Medicina Mg alloys WE43 alloy biodegradable implants cytocompatibility |
| title | The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic Applications |
| title_full | The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic Applications |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic Applications |
| title_short | The Influence of Zn and Ca Addition on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Electrochemical Behavior of WE43 Alloy Intended for Orthopedic Applications |
| title_sort | influence of zn and ca addition on the microstructure mechanical properties cytocompatibility and electrochemical behavior of we43 alloy intended for orthopedic applications |
| topic | Mg alloys WE43 alloy biodegradable implants cytocompatibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1271 |
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