EUROPEAN CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION ON ADVANCED MATERIALS AND PROCESSES - EUROMAT 2021

Magnesium (Mg) alloys are renowned for metal implant applications due to their versatility in mechanical strength, biodegradation, ability in supporting mineralization and enhancing chondrogenesis. Over time bones and joints lose their protective cartilage by wear off leading to long term degenerative joint disorder called osteoarthritis (OA). OA symptoms include joint pain and stiffness incapacitating the quality of life. Our research is in investigating the efficacy and suitability of Mg based beads in favoring joint regeneration along with hindering OA progression.
Mg beads (length ≈1.0 µm and width of 0.5 µm) were obtained by punching Mg wire with a specially designed device made of WE43. Mg wire processing involved intermediate heat treatment wire drawing steps. Degradation rates of the beads under various physiological conditions (two different oxygen regimes hypoxia (3% O2) and normoxia (20% O2) to mimic OA and healthy conditions respectively in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium + 10% Fetal bovine serum (DMEM + 10% FBS) were analyzed via weight loss method and release of Mg was observed by atomic absorption spectroscopy.
The results revealed that oxygen conditions had an effect on degradation, with beads under normoxia degrading faster than that of hypoxia. Similarly, long-term immersion test carried out for 6 and 8 weeks also confirmed more degradation in normoxia. Bead’s compatibility was then studied by assessing the impact on cell growth and viability by using SCP-1 cells (human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) transduced mesenchymal stem cells). Dose dependent toxicity was demonstrated by live-dead and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Preincubation of the beads for a period of 24 h reduced the toxicity.
Further investigations will elucidate the impact of the material degradation on the SCP-1 chondrogenesis and osteogenesis potentials. The cytocompatible nature and suitable degradation rate in hypoxic conditions of the Mg beads makes Mg a smart biomaterial for OA therapy.