Effect on corrosion behavior of collagen film/fiber coated AZ31 magnesium alloy

Magnesium is actively investigated for biodegradable implant materials because of nontoxicity and similar mechanical properties of bone. The problem of biodegradable magnesium implant is its high corrosion rate in vivo. Magnesium might be corroded and lost mechanical integrity before new bone is regenerated. The corrosion behavior of magnesium and its alloys in electrolytic physiological environment is extremely poor and it is essential to improve this limitation for their use in orthopedic applications. This paper explored collagen film/fiber coating to increase corrosion resistance and improve biocompatibility of magnesium alloy stent. This study has successfully spun-coated collagen on the magnesium surface and corrosion inhibition properties were well characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. DC polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy show that corrosion rate of electrospun collagen coated magnesium is lower than the corrosion rate of dip-coated magnesium and blank magnesium.