Biocompatibility Study of Silica-Based Magnesium Composites: A Review

Abstract

Because of their exceptional biodegradability, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, magnesium-based composites have attracted a lot of interest in the biomedical field. This is especially true in the fields of orthopaedics, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Magnesium has limited utility in load-bearing implants and scaffolds due to its quick corrosion in physiological settings. Magnesium alloys are strengthened with silica (SiO₂), which improves biocompatibility, decreases corrosion rates, and enhances mechanical qualities, so overcoming these constraints. The biocompatibility of silica-based magnesium composites has not been well reviewed, despite the increasing interest in these materials. This study aims to rectify that. By focusing on how these composites interact with cells, tissues, and the immune system, this review hopes to assess their biocompatibility. It delves into the ways in which biocompatibility is affected by variables such silica concentration, surface changes, degradation behaviour, and composite processing processes. Research on cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, osteogenesis, and tissue integration is particularly covered, as are in vitro and in vivo investigations. The difficulties of improving these composites’ mechanical strength, degradation rates, and stability in biological settings are also discussed in the paper. In contrast to previous reviews that have mostly dealt with the mechanical and corrosion characteristics of magnesium alloys, this one focus entirely on the biocompatibility of silica-based magnesium composites, an area that has received very little attention in the literature. The study goes on to talk about how many methods have been used to determine biocompatibility, such as cytotoxicity testing, gene expression analysis, cell viability experiments, and in vivo research with animals like rabbits and rats. Research on magnesium composites with silica has shown encouraging findings, suggesting that these materials are more biocompatible than pure magnesium and other magnesium alloys. In vitro studies have demonstrated that silica improves bone regeneration, angiogenesis, and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and in vivo studies have shown that silica improves tissue integration, reduces inflammation, and increases bone growth at implant sites. Still, there are obstacles to overcome, most notably regulating the rates of magnesium breakdown, which can have undesirable consequences including gas buildup and the early deterioration of mechanical strength. Surface coatings, alloying, and biodegradable polymer usage are some of the strategies being investigated as potential solutions to these problems. Also, a major obstacle is still making sure silica-magnesium composites are stable over the long run. In spite of these challenges, the encouraging results suggest that magnesium composites based on silica have enormous potential as a material for drug delivery systems, bone tissue engineering, and orthopaedic implants. Researchers, biomedical engineers, and clinicians may benefit greatly from this study since it sheds light on the biocompatibility of these materials and helps direct the creation of safer, more effective biomaterials based on magnesium for use in clinical settings. The results will pave the way for further biological applications of these materials, such as medication delivery and bone healing, and will aid in their successful clinical translation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Investigating Magnesium as a Biodegradable Material.
• Investigating Role of Silica in Enhancing Magnesium Composites.
• Investigating Nanoparticles and Their Role in Biocompatibility.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT