title: Evaluation of pristine and Eu ₂O₃-added MgB ₂ ceramics for medical applications: hardness, corrosion resistance, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity.
abstract: Nano- or micropowders of Eu2O3 were added to MgB2, resulting in a composition of (MgB2)0.975(EuO1.5)0.025. Pristine and doped samples were prepared using spark plasma sintering and tested for (i) Vickers hardness, (ii) pH evolution in phosphate-buffered saline solution, (iii) corrosion resistance (Tafel polarization curves), (iv) cytotoxicity (in vitro tests), and (v) antibacterial activity. Eu2O3 addition influenced the investigated properties. Solutions of MgB2-based samples show a relatively high saturation pH of 8.5. This value is lower than that of solutions incubated with Mg or other Mg-based biodegradable alloys reported in the literature. MgB2-based samples have lower electro-corrosion rates than Mg. Their Vickers hardness is 6.8-10.2GPa, and these values are higher than those of biodegradable Mg-based alloys. MgB2 has low in vitro biocompatibility, good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, and mild activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Our results suggest that MgB2-based materials deserve attention in biomedical applications, such as implants or sterile medical instruments.
authors: University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania. Electronic address: dan_batalu@yahoo.com.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Batalu
authors: National Institute for Biological Sciences, Splaiul Independentei 296, 060031 Bucharest, Romania.
authors: Ana Maria
authors: AM
authors: Stanciuc
authors: National Institute for Biological Sciences, Splaiul Independentei 296, 060031 Bucharest, Romania.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Moldovan
authors: National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 105 bis, 077125 Magurele, Romania.
authors: Gheorghe
authors: G
authors: Aldica
authors: National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 105 bis, 077125 Magurele, Romania. Electronic address: badica2003@yahoo.com.
authors: Petre
authors: P
authors: Badica
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003343:Corrosion; D005063:Europium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006244:Hardness; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001896:Boron Compounds; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010087:Oxides; C078128:magnesium boride; D005063:Europium
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Corrosion; Cytotoxicity; Hardness; MgB(2) added with Eu(2)O(3); pH evolution in PBS