There
is an increasing interest in biodegradable materials, such as
magnesium, for orthopaedic implants. This is driven by their potential
to address challenges like stress shielding and the need for secondary
removal surgery. In this study, biodegradable magnesium alloys were
produced using the Vacuum Induction Casting technique. The impact of
micro-alloying Zn and Ca in MgxZn0.2Ca (x =
0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 wt%) alloys on corrosion resistance,
cytocompatibility, and early-stage inflammatory response was
investigated. XRD and SEM-EDS analysis confirmed the presence of Ca2Mg6Zn3 secondary phases in all alloys. The Mg0.3Zn0.2Ca
alloy exhibited the lowest corrosion rate and an elastic modulus of
36.8 GPa, resembling that of natural bone. Electrochemical measurements
indicated a correlation between grain size and secondary phase volume
fraction in explaining corrosion behaviour. In vitro degradation in
simulated body fluid (SBF) for 21 days showed hydroxyapatite formation
on alloy surfaces, aligning with electrochemical studies. In vitro
cytotoxicity tests demonstrated the cytocompatibility of all alloys,
with Mg0.3Zn0.2Ca
having the highest cell viability over a 6-day cell culture.
Investigation into the inflammatory response with RAW-Blue macrophages
revealed the anti-inflammatory properties of Mg0.3Zn0.2Ca
alloys. Micro-alloying with 0.3 wt% Zn and 0.2 wt% Ca enhanced
mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, cytocompatibility, and
immunomodulatory properties. This positions the Mg0.3Zn0.2Ca alloy as a promising biodegradable implant for bone fixation applications.