SURFACE MODIFICATION OF MAGNESIUM FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PLASMA TREATMENT, LASER TEXTURING AND SANDBLASTING
Keywords:
magnesium, surface modification, biomaterial
Abstract
Magnesium and its alloys have emerged as promising materials for biomedical applications due to their light weight, mechanical compatibility with bone, biodegradability, and excellent biocompatibility. However, their rapid degradation in physiological environments remains a critical challenge. To address this, a range of surface-modification techniques have been explored to tailor the surface properties while preserving the bulk characteristics of magnesium. This paper provides an overview of surface-engineering methods aimed at enhancing the corrosion resistance, mechanical performance and bioactivity of magnesium. Three key surface-modification approaches are presented: plasma treatment, laser texturing and sandblasting. Plasma treatment resulted in the formation of a stable, protective oxide layer with significantly improved corrosion resistance and hydrophilicity. Laser texturing generated hierarchical microstructures yielding superhydrophobic surfaces with an enhanced hardness, though slightly reduced corrosion resistance. Sandblasting led to an increased surface roughness and mechanical stiffness, but also introduced microstructural defects that are detrimental to the corrosion stability. Overall, the study demonstrates how tailored surface modifications can effectively balance the mechanical integrity and degradation behavior of magnesium, paving the way for its optimized use in biomedical applications.
References
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[2] Zhang S, Jiang J, Zou X, Liu N, Wang H, Yang L, et al. Progress of laser surface treatment on magnesium alloy. Front Chem 2022;10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2022.999630.
[3] Schumacher SA, Toribio RE, Lakritz J, Bertone AL. Radio-Telemetric Assessment of Cardiac Variables and Locomotion With Experimentally Induced Hypermagnesemia in Horses Using Chronically Implanted Catheters. Front Vet Sci 2019;Volume 6-2019. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00414.
[4] Zhang J, Zhang B, Zhang J, Lin W, Zhang S. Magnesium Promotes the Regeneration of the Peripheral Nerve. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021;Volume 9-2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.717854.
[5] Shang Z, Li D, Chen J, Wang M, Zhang B, Wang X, et al. The Role of Biodegradable Magnesium and Its Alloys in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Based on Animal Studies. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021;Volume 9-2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2021.789498.
[6] Zoroddu MA, Aaseth J, Crisponi G, Medici S, Peana M, Nurchi VM. The essential metals for humans: a brief overview. J Inorg Biochem 2019;195:120–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JINORGBIO.2019.03.013.
[7] Khan M, Osman K, Green G, Haddad FS. The epidemiology of failure in total knee arthroplasty. Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:105–12. https://doi.org/doi:10.1302/0301-620X.98B1.36293.
[8] Dauwe J, Walters G, Holzer LA, Vanhaecht K, Nijs S. Failure after proximal humeral fracture osteosynthesis: a one year analysis of hospital-related healthcare cost. Int Orthop 2020;44:1217–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-020-04577-y.
[9] Herteleer M, De Jaegere A, Winckelmans T, Casteur H, Nijs S, Hoekstra H. Healthcare utilization and related cost of midshaft clavicle fracture treatment in Belgium. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2021;47:1281–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-020-01307-2.
[10] Xi W, Hegde V, Zoller SD, Park HY, Hart CM, Kondo T, et al. Point-of-care antimicrobial coating protects orthopaedic implants from bacterial challenge. Nat Commun 2021;12:5473. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25383-z.
[11] Virtanen S. Biodegradable Mg and Mg alloys: Corrosion and biocompatibility. Mater Sci Eng B 2011;176:1600–8. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2011.05.028.
[12] Witte F. The history of biodegradable magnesium implants: A review. Acta Biomater 2010;6:1680–92. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2010.02.028.
[13] Wang J-L, Xu J-K, Hopkins C, Chow DH-K, Qin L. Biodegradable Magnesium-Based Implants in Orthopedics—A General Review and Perspectives. Adv Sci 2020;7:1902443. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201902443.
[14] Rahman M, Dutta NK, Roy Choudhury N. Magnesium Alloys With Tunable Interfaces as Bone Implant Materials. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020;Volume 8-2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00564.
[15] Chandra G, Pandey A. Design approaches and challenges for biodegradable bone implants: a review. Expert Rev Med Devices 2021;18:629–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/17434440.2021.1935875.
[16] Heimann RB. Magnesium alloys for biomedical application: Advanced corrosion control through surface coating. Surf Coatings Technol 2021;405:126521. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2020.126521.
[17] Jahr H, Li Y, Zhou J, Zadpoor AA, Schröder K-U. Additively Manufactured Absorbable Porous Metal Implants – Processing, Alloying and Corrosion Behavior. Front Mater 2021;Volume 8-2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2021.628633.
[18] Hornberger H, Virtanen S, Boccaccini AR. Biomedical coatings on magnesium alloys – A review. Acta Biomater 2012;8:2442–55. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2012.04.012.
[19] Wang J, Tang J, Zhang P, Li Y, Wang J, Lai Y, et al. Surface modification of magnesium alloys developed for bioabsorbable orthopedic implants: A general review. J Biomed Mater Res Part B Appl Biomater 2012;100B:1691–701. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.32707.
[20] Yang J, Cui F, Lee IS. Surface Modifications of Magnesium Alloys for Biomedical Applications. Ann Biomed Eng 2011;39:1857–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0300-y.
[21] Huo H, Li Y, Wang F. Corrosion of AZ91D magnesium alloy with a chemical conversion coating and electroless nickel layer. Corros Sci 2004;46:1467–77. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2003.09.023.
[22] Xue D, Yun Y, Schulz MJ, Shanov V. Corrosion protection of biodegradable magnesium implants using anodization. Mater Sci Eng C 2011;31:215–23. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2010.08.019.
[23] Jothi V, Adesina AY, Kumar AM, Rahman MM, Ram JSN. Enhancing the biodegradability and surface protective performance of AZ31 Mg alloy using polypyrrole/gelatin composite coatings with anodized Mg surface. Surf Coatings Technol 2020;381:125139. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2019.125139.
[24] Kocijan A, Kovač J, Junkar I, Resnik M, Kononenko V, Conradi M. The Influence of Plasma Treatment on the Corrosion and Biocompatibility of Magnesium. Materials (Basel) 2022;15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15207405.
[25] Li C-Y, Feng X-L, Fan X-L, Yu X-T, Yin Z-Z, Kannan MB, et al. Corrosion and Wear Resistance of Micro-Arc Oxidation Composite Coatings on Magnesium Alloy AZ31—The Influence of Inclusions of Carbon Spheres. Adv Eng Mater 2019;21:1900446. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.201900446.
[26] Conradi M, Kocijan A, Podgornik B. Enhancing Magnesium Bioactivity for Biomedical Applications: Effects of Laser Texturing and Sandblasting on Surface Properties. Materials (Basel) 2024;17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17204978.
[27] Park J, Park B-I, Son YJ, Lee SH, Um S-H, Kim Y-C, et al. Femtosecond laser-mediated anchoring of polymer layers on the surface of a biodegradable metal. J Magnes Alloy 2021;9:1373–81. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jma.2020.12.003.
[28] Fajardo S, Miguélez L, Arenas MA, de Damborenea J, Llorente I, Feliu S. Corrosion resistance of pulsed laser modified AZ31 Mg alloy surfaces. J Magnes Alloy 2022;10:756–68. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jma.2021.09.020.
[29] Stepanovska J, Matejka R, Rosina J, Bacakova L, Kolarova H. Treatments for enhancing the biocompatibility of titanium implants. Biomed Pap 2020;164:23–33. https://doi.org/10.5507/bp.2019.062.
[30] Zhao L, Mei S, Chu PK, Zhang Y, Wu Z. The influence of hierarchical hybrid micro/nano-textured titanium surface with titania nanotubes on osteoblast functions. Biomaterials 2010;31:5072–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOMATERIALS.2010.03.014.
[31] Oliver WC, Pharr GM. Measurement of hardness and elastic modulus by instrumented indentation: Advances in understanding and refinements to methodology. J Mater Res 2004;19:3–20. https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2004.19.1.3.
[32] K.R. R, Bontha S, M.R. R, Das M, Balla VK. Degradation, wettability and surface characteristics of laser surface modified Mg–Zn–Gd–Nd alloy. J Mater Sci Mater Med 2020;31:42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-020-06383-9.
[33] Pulido-González N, Torres B, Zheludkevich ML, Rams J. High Power Diode Laser (HPDL) surface treatments to improve the mechanical properties and the corrosion behaviour of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys for biodegradable implants. Surf Coatings Technol 2020;402:126314. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SURFCOAT.2020.126314.
[34] Iwaszko J, Strzelecka M. Effect of cw-CO2 laser surface treatment on structure and properties of AZ91 magnesium alloy. Opt Lasers Eng 2016;81:63–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.OPTLASENG.2016.01.009.
[35] Wenzel RN. Resistance of solid surfaces to wetting by water. Ind Eng Chem, 1936;28.
Published
2025-06-12
How to Cite
1.
Conradi M. SURFACE MODIFICATION OF MAGNESIUM FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PLASMA TREATMENT, LASER TEXTURING AND SANDBLASTING. MatTech [Internet]. 2025Jun.12 [cited 2026Sep.8];59(3):469–474. Available from: https://mater-tehnol.si/index.php/MatTech/article/view/1440
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