Magnesium-Based Biomedical Devices Degradation Control by Means of Multilayer Coatings

Abstract

Sometimes, in surgical procedure following an accident or illness it is necessary to use metal prostheses or implants to ensure the functionality of bones and joint systems. From time to time, at the end of the patient's healing process, it is necessary to remove the medical device used. In these cases, it would be useful to use resorbable devices to avoid further surgery. A possible solution to the problem could be to use metal alloy devices that degrade over time, while ensuring the functionality of the system. Unfortunately, the chemical compounds generated by the corrosion processes of metal alloys used in the medical field are almost always harmful to human health. The products generated by the degradation processes of some magnesium alloys, on the other hand, are not considered toxic or harmful to human health, so that a device showing controllable degradation rate can be used, guaranteeing the functionality of the implanted device. To achieve this goal, a possible solution could include the use of one or more coatings, capable of controlling the metal degradation process. To do this, we used a first coating obtained by subjecting the samples to a direct current (DC) plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment, carried out in an alkaline solution based on silicates and sodium. Subsequently, the samples were coated with a polydopamine (PDOPA) film by dip-coating, and, at the end, a l-polylactic acid (PLLA) coating was applied on the sample by hot-pressing. The coupons were subjected to morphological characterization by Scanning Electron Spectroscopy (SEM) and to electrochemical characterization in Hank's solution at 37°C by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental results obtained demonstrate that the coupling of the PEO oxide with the polydopamine and the polymeric film show properties such as to allow the creation of devices which permit the control of the metal degradation process.