title: SR-XRD in situ monitoring of copper-IUD corrosion in simulated uterine fluid using a portable spectroelectrochemical cell.
abstract: The objective of this work is to study the initial corrosion of copper in the presence of gold when placed in simulated uterine fluid in order to better understand the evolution of active components of copper-IUDs. In order to carry out this study, a portable cell was designed to partially simulate the uterine environment and provide a way of tracking the chemical changes occurring in the samples in situ within a controlled environment over a long period of time using synchrotron spectroelectrochemistry. The dynamically forming crystalline corrosion products are determined in situ for a range of copper-gold surface ratios over the course of a 10-day experiment in the cell. It is concluded that the insoluble deposits forming over this time are not the origin of the anticonception mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rosie A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Grayburn
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dowsett
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter-Jan
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sabbe
authors.affiliation: XMaS the UK CRG, ESRF, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wermeille
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jorge Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Anjos
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flexer
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Keersmaecker
authors.affiliation: Gynecological Outpatient Clinic and IUD Training Center, Ghent B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wildermeersch
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium. Electronic address: annemie.adriaens@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Annemie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adriaens
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics; D001826:Body Fluids; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D003343:Corrosion; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D014599:Uterus; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D003300:Copper
keywords: Contraception; Copper IUD; Corrosion; In situ analysis; XRD