Influence of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast culture on the corrosion of a T6-treated AZ91 alloy.

This study investigated the corrosion of artificially aged T6 heat-treated Mg-9%Al-1%Zn (AZ91) for biomedical applications. Corrosion tests and surface analysis were completed both with and without a monolayer of mouse preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on the sample. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICPMS) were used to explore the corrosion processes after either 3 or 21 days of AZ91 incubation in cell culture medium (CCM). The EIS showed both the inner layer resistance (Rin ) and outer layer resistance (Rout ) were lower for samples without cells cultured on the surface at 3 days (Rin  = 2.64 e4 Ω/cm(2) , Rout  = 140 Ω/cm(2) ) compared to 21 days (Rin  = 3.60 e4 Ω/cm(2) , Rout  = 287 Ω/cm(2) ) due to precipitation of magnesium and calcium phosphates over time. Samples with preosteoblasts cultured on the surface had a slower initial corrosion (3 day, Rin  = 1.88 e5 Ω/cm(2) , Rout  = 1060 Ω/cm(2) ) which was observed to increase over time (21 day, Rin  = 2.99 e4 Ω/cm(2) , Rout  = 287 Ω/cm(2) ). Changes in the corrosion processes were thought to be related to changes in the coverage provided by the cell layer. Our results reveal that the presence of cells and biological processes are able to significantly influence the corrosion rate of AZ91.