Magnesium-Titanium Alloys: A Promising Solution for Biodegradable Biomedical Implants

Abstract

Magnesium has been acknowledged as a viable biodegradable material for implants, attributed to a higher degradation rate without incorporating any toxicity or reducing stress shielding. Titanium was regarded as the suitable alloying element in magnesium due to biocompatibility and high corrosion resistance in the biological environment. The addition of titanium to mag-nesium improved magnesium's corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. Mechanical al-loying was used to successfully manufacture Mg-Ti alloys by spark plasma sintering. By using spark plasma sintering, alloy powder mixed through ball milling is converted to bulk materials without affecting the alloy's structural integrity. Heating up to 200°C can be applied to the me-tastable Mg-Ti alloy before it separates into titanium and magnesium. Comparing Mg-Ti alloy to Mg (pure), the alloy had a higher potential and a stronger resistance to corrosion, mainly Mg80-Ti20 alloy in a physiologically simulated setting. Mg-Ti alloy supernatants' in vitro cytotoxicity on pre-osteoblastic cells, symbolize no more hazardous than Mg (pure) supernatants. New polymer-metal composites, such those with PLGA (polylactic co-glycolic acid), can be made possible by magnesium and magnesium-Ti-based alloys, which help to prevent the degradation of material through change in pH. The mechanical characterisation and corrosion assessment of magnesium-titanium alloys for use in fracture-fixing implants and other biomedical applications are discussed.