2 - Production methods and characterization of porous Mg and Mg alloys for biomedical applications

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) and some of its alloys are attracting increasing interest as promising biodegradable materials for medical applications due to their analogous mechanical properties in relation to bone tissues, functional roles in the human body, decent biocompatibility, and higher strength to weight ratio than other metallic, polymeric, and ceramic biomaterials. Porous Mg and Mg alloys can be used as bone substitutes with bone-mimicking characteristics. Since the structures of bone tissue and porous Mg materials are similar, host bone cells can grow into the pores of an Mg scaffold and form new bone tissue. Moreover, the gradual biodegradation of porous Mg and Mg alloys after implantation, followed by the absorption of Mg ions in the body, eliminates the necessity of removing the implant via a subsequent surgical procedure, which makes Mg scaffolds more favorable than other porous metallic biomaterials.