Novel AgCa and AgCaLa alloys for Fe-based bioresorbable implants with adapted degradation

Resorbable implants are highly beneficial to reduce patient burden since they need not be removed after a defined period. Currently, magnesium (Mg) and polymers are being applied as bioresorbable materials. However, for some applications the insufficient mechanical properties and high degradation rate of Mg cause the need for new materials. Iron (Fe)-based alloys are promising due to their biocompatibility and good mechanical properties, but their degradation rate is too low and needs to be adapted eg. via alloying with manganese (Mn). Besides, phases with high electrochemical potential lead to increased degradation of residual material with lower potential based on the galvanic coupling. Here, silver (Ag) is promising for the formation of such phases due to its high electrochemical potential (+0.8 V vs. SHE), immiscibility with Fe, biocompatibility, and anti-bacterial properties. Since remaining silver particles can lead to adverse consequences as thrombosis, these particles need to dissolve after the matrix material. Thus a silver alloy with high electrochemical potential, biocompatibility, and adjusted degradation behavior is required as an additive for iron-based bioresorbable materials. Several silver alloying systems are possible, but regarding the electrochemical potential and degradation behavior of binary alloys, calcium (Ca) and lanthanum (La) are best-suited considering their biocompatibility. Accordingly, this research addresses AgCa and AgCaLa alloys as additives for iron-based degradable materials with adapted degradation behavior.