Controlling the biodegradation rate of magnesium using sol-gel and apatite coatings

Magnesium is light, biocompatible and has similar mechanical properties to natural bone, so it has the potential to be used as a biodegradable material for orthopedic applications. However, pure magnesium severely corrodes in a physiological environment, which may hinder iT_s use for in vivo applications. Protective coatings are effective method to delay the corrosion of Mg. In this study, sol-gel and hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings were applied onto the surface of pure magnesium substrates using a biomimetic technique. The corrosion rate of surface-treated substrates was tested. It was found that both types of coatings substantially slowed down the corrosion of the substrate, the 60Ca so-gel and HA coating was more effectively than the 100Si so-gel and HA coating in hindering the degradation of the substrate. Thus, the corrosion rate of magnesium implanT_s can be closely tailored by coating sol-gel then coating apatite thereby monitoring the release of magnesium ions into the body.