Remotely Controlled Electrochemical Degradation of Metallic Implants

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Boris Rivkin - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Farzin Akbar - , Micro- and Nano-Biosystems (Research Group), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Martin Otto - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Author)
  • Lukas Beyer - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Author)
  • Birgit Paul - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Konrad Kosiba - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Tobias Gustmann - , Chair of Materials Synthesis and Analysis, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Julia Hufenbach - , Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Author)
  • Mariana Medina-Sánchez - , Micro- and Nano-Biosystems (Research Group), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, CIC nanoGUNE (Author)

Abstract

Biodegradable medical implants promise to benefit patients by eliminating risks and discomfort associated with permanent implantation or surgical removal. The time until full resorption is largely determined by the implant's material composition, geometric design, and surface properties. Implants with a fixed residence time, however, cannot account for the needs of individual patients, thereby imposing limits on personalization. Here, an active Fe-based implant system is reported whose biodegradation is controlled remotely and in situ. This is achieved by incorporating a galvanic cell within the implant. An external and wireless signal is used to activate the on-board electronic circuit that controls the corrosion current between the implant body and an integrated counter electrode. This configuration leads to the accelerated degradation of the implant and allows to harvest electrochemical energy that is naturally released by corrosion. In this study, the electrochemical properties of the Fe-30Mn-1C/Pt galvanic cell model system is first investigated and high-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography is used to evaluate the galvanic degradation of stent structures. Subsequently, a centimeter-sized active implant prototype is assembled with conventional electronic components and the remotely controlled corrosion is tested in vitro. Furthermore, strategies toward the miniaturization and full biodegradability of this system are presented.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2307742
Number of pages14
JournalSmall
Volume20 (2024)
Issue number28
Early online date7 Feb 2024
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85184453064
Mendeley c6b7ce96-d688-312e-9bba-648a87c8615f