Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Major/Program
Materials Science and Engineering
First Advisor's Name
Norman Munroe
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Kinzy Jones
Second Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Third Advisor's Name
Arvind Agarwal
Third Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Fourth Advisor's Name
Anthony McGoron
Fourth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Fifth Advisor's Name
Sharan Ramaswamy
Fifth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Sixth Advisor's Name
Benjamin Boesl
Sixth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Keywords
Bio-absorbable, magnesium alloy, polymer coating, surface treatments, corrosion, biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, tensile testing
Date of Defense
11-14-2014
Abstract
Advances in biomaterials have enabled medical practitioners to replace diseased body parts or to assist in the healing process. In situations where a permanent biomaterial implant is used for a temporary application, additional surgeries are required to remove these implants once the healing process is complete, which increases medical costs and patient morbidity. Bio-absorbable materials dissolve and are metabolized by the body after the healing process is complete thereby negating additional surgeries for removal of implants.
Magnesium alloys as novel bio-absorbable biomaterials, have attracted great attention recently because of their good mechanical properties, biocompatibility and corrosion rate in physiological environments. However, usage of Mg as biodegradable implant has been limited by its poor corrosion resistance in the physiological solutions. An optimal biodegradable implant must initially have slow degradation to ensure total mechanical integrity then degrade over time as the tissue heals.
The current research focuses on surface modification of Mg alloy (MZC) by surface treatment and polymer coating in an effort to enhance the corrosion rate and biocompatibility. It is envisaged that the results obtained from this investigation would provide the academic community with insights for the utilization of bio-absorbable implants particularly for patients suffering from atherosclerosis.
The alloying elements used in this study are zinc and calcium both of which are essential minerals in the human metabolic and healing processes. A hydrophobic biodegradable co-polymer, polyglycolic-co-caprolactone (PGCL), was used to coat the surface treated MZC to retard the initial degradation rate. Two surface treatments were selected: (a) acid etching and (b) anodization to produce different surface morphologies, roughness, surface energy, chemistry and hydrophobicity that are pivotal for PGCL adhesion onto the MZC. Additionally, analyses of biodegradation, biocompatibility, and mechanical integrity were performed in order to investigate the optimum surface modification process, suitable for biomaterial implants.
The study concluded that anodization created better adhesion between the MZC and PGCL coating. Furthermore, PGCL coated anodized MZC exhibited lower corrosion rate, good mechanical integrity, and better biocompatibility as compared with acid etched.
Identifier
FI14032310
Recommended Citation
Amruthaluri, Sushma, "An Investigation on Biocompatibility of Bio-Absorbable Polymer Coated Magnesium Alloys" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1742.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1742
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