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In Vivo Evaluation of Mg–5%Zn–2%Nd Alloy as an Innovative Biodegradable Implant Material

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A Correction to this article was published on 04 October 2019

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Abstract

Mg-based alloys have been considered as potential structural materials for biodegradable implants in orthopedic and cardiovascular applications, particularly when combined with other biocompatible alloying elements. However, the performances of Mg-based alloys in in vitro conditions do not accurately reflect their behavior in an in vivo environment. As such, the present study aimed at evaluating the in vivo behavior of a novel Mg–5Zn–2Nd–0.13Y–0.35Zr alloy designated as ZE52 alloy. In vivo assessment was carried out using cylindrical disks implanted into the sub-cutaneous layer of the skin at the back midline of male Wistar rats for up to 11 weeks. Post-implantation responses evaluated included well-being behavior, blood biochemical tests and histology. The corrosion rate of the implants, expressed in terms of hydrogen gas formation, was evaluated by radiographic assessment and CT examination. Results of the well-being behavioral and blood biochemical tests indicated that the in vivo behavior of ZE52 alloy implants was similar to that of inert Ti–6Al–4V alloy implants introduced into a control group. Moreover, histological analysis did not reveal any severe inflammation, as compared to the reference alloy. However, significant sub-cutaneous gas cavities were observed, indicative of the accelerated degradation of the ZE52 alloy implants. The accelerated degradation was also manifested by the formation of alloy debris that was encapsulated within the gas cavities. Post-implantation gas bubble puncturing resulted in the complete degradation of the Mg-based implants, indicating that the inert nature of the gas prevented accelerated degradation of the alloy before it was naturally absorbed by the body.

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  • 04 October 2019

    The article In Vivo Evaluation of Mg–5%Zn–2%Nd Alloy as an Innovative Biodegradable Implant Materialwritten by Elkaiam et al. was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on September 17, 2019 with open access. With the author(s)’ decision to step back from Open Choice, the copyright of the article changed on October 3, 2019 to Biomedical Engineering Society 2019 and the article is forthwith distributed under the terms of copyright.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Ilan Shelef for assistance with CT examination.

Conflict of interest

No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    L. Elkaiam & E. Aghion

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    O. Hakimi

  3. Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    G. Yosafovich-Doitch & S. Ovadia

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  1. L. Elkaiam
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  2. O. Hakimi
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  3. G. Yosafovich-Doitch
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Correspondence to O. Hakimi.

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Associate Editor Smadar Cohen oversaw the review of this article.

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Elkaiam, L., Hakimi, O., Yosafovich-Doitch, G. et al. In Vivo Evaluation of Mg–5%Zn–2%Nd Alloy as an Innovative Biodegradable Implant Material. Ann Biomed Eng 48, 380–392 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-019-02355-5

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