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Volume 8
Journal of Biotechnology and Biomaterials
ISSN: 2155-952X
Biomaterials 2018
March 05-06, 2018
Page 38
conference
series
.com
March 05-06, 2018 | Berlin, Germany
3
rd
Annual Conference and Expo on
Biomaterials
Regine Willumeit Römer, J Biotechnol Biomater 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2155-952X-C1-087
Degradable metallic implants - assessment of the current situation
A
ging populations and a rise in osteoporosis-related fractures will sustain a need for orthopaedic intervention. In addition,
juvenile patients and active adults exhibiting risky sporting activities also require perfect care. So far, these indications are
treated mainly with non-degradable metal implants or in some cases also polymers. From the patient’s point of view, degradable
implants would clearly be preferred. Here degradable magnesium-based implants could become an alternative to permanent
metallic implants which have to be removed after healing, or to replace degradable polymers which do not always show the
required mechanical properties. Mg and its alloys degrade under physiological conditions. The great challenge here is to tailor
the degradation in a manner that is suitable for a biological environment. Fast or uncontrolled corrosion is associated with strong
hydrogen and ion release and severe pH changes, which can lead to a fast loss of mechanical stability and undesirable biological
reactions. Since these processes are highly complex in a living system and sufficient data describing the degradation
in vivo
is missing, it is very difficult to produce knowledge based new alloys. Therefore, the development of new biodegradable Mg-
based implants is strongly relying on the understanding of the degradation process in the living organism and the creation of an
appropriate test system
in vitro
. Still, the endeavor is successful: one CE certifiedMg-alloy compression screw (Magnezix, Syntellix
AG, Germany) and a Mg-based drug-eluting stent (Magmaris, Biotronik AG, Germany) are in the market. In addition, in China
and Korea patient trials (hip surgery and hand fracture) are reported. This presentation will outline the current status of Mg-
implants and which perspectives Mg based implants could have.
Recent publications
1. LWu, F Feyerabend A F Schilling, RWillumeit Römer, B J C Luthringer (2015) Effects of extracellular magnesium extract
on the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts and osteoclasts in coculture. Acta Biomat. 27:294-304.
2. B J C (2016) Luthringer, R Willumeit Römer (2016) Effect of magnesium degradation products on mesenchymal stem
cell fate and osteoblastogenesis. Gene 575(1): 9-20.
Regine Willumeit Römer
Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht, Germany