A novel Mg-Zn-Nd-Zr alloy lumbar interbody fusion cage: An in vitro and in vivo study

作者：Pengfei Chi, Wen Yu, Bing Wu, Ming Gao, Kai Song, Kaige Mao, Bo Li, Xuanhui Liu, Haoming Liu, Chuyue Zhang, Jianheng Liu, Yang Yu, Qiaoling Chen, Ruoxin Zhao, Ning Yu, Keya Mao, Ke Yang, Lili Tan, Yan Wang, Zheng Wang · 发表于：Journal of Magnesium and Alloys · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.jma.2024.06.017 · 被引用次数：9 · 研究领域：Magnesium Alloys: Properties and Applications、Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty、Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology

Interbody fusion is recognized as the golden standard of surgical intervention for degenerative disc disease (DDD). Interbody fusion cage made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is commonly used in lumbar interbody fusion surgery in the treatment of DDD worldwide. However, there are some limitations of PEEK including their bio-inert nature and impediment to host bone integration. This study aimed to evaluate the degradation profile and osteoinductive potential of biodegradable Mg-Zn-Nd-Zr cages with/without micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings. The Mg-Zn-Nd-Zr alloy cages, whether coated with MAO or not, demonstrated commendable biocompatibility and biomechanical properties. Immersion and electrochemical tests show better corrosion resistance of MAO coatings in vitro. mRNA sequencing, RT-qPCR and Western blotting revealed that Mg-Zn-Nd-Zr and Mg-Zn-Nd-Zr/MAO had a better effectiveness on osteoinductivity. In vivo evaluations in ovine models over 12 weeks and 24 weeks post-implantation revealed radiological and histological evidence of enhanced bone formation adjacent to the Mg-Zn-Nd-Zr alloy cages compared to PEEK counterparts. Moreover, the MAO-coated cages exhibited a reduced propensity for gas formation. The Mg-Zn-Nd-Zr alloy is as a superior osteoinductive material compared with PEEK, with the MAO coating offering an advantage in mitigating gas production. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to refine the alloy's composition or surface treatments, particularly to address...