Electronic properties and surface potential evaluations at the protein nano-biofilm/oxide interface: Impact on corrosion and biodegradation

Albumin Protein Impact on Early-Stage In Vitro Biodegradation of Magnesium Alloy (WE43)

Mg and its alloys are promising biodegradable materials for orthopedic implants and cardiovascular stents. The first interactions of protein molecules with Mg alloy surfaces have a substantial impact on their biocompatibility and biodegradation. We investigate the early-stage electrochemical, chemical, morphological, and electrical surface potential changes of alloy WE43 in either 154 mM NaCl or Hanks' simulated physiological solutions in the absence or presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein. WE43 had the lowest electrochemical current noise (ECN) fluctuations, the highest noise resistance (Zn = 1774 Ω·cm2), and the highest total impedance (|Z| = 332 Ω·cm2) when immersed for 30 min in Hanks' solution. The highest ECN, lowest Zn (1430 Ω·cm2), and |Z| (49 Ω·cm2) were observed in the NaCl solution. In the solutions containing BSA, a unique dual-mode biodegradation was observed. Adding BSA to a NaCl solution increased |Z| from 49 to 97 Ω·cm2 and decreased the ECN signal of the alloy, i.e., the BSA inhibited corrosion. On the other hand, the presence of BSA in Hanks' solution increased the rate of biodegradation by decreasing both Zn and |Z| while increasing ECN. Finally, using scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), we observed an adsorbed nanolayer of BSA with aggregated and fibrillar morphology only in Hanks' solution, where the electrical surface potential was 52 mV lower than that of the Mg oxide layer.

Morphological and Surface Potential Characterization of Protein Nanobiofilm Formation on Magnesium Alloy Oxide: Their Role in Biodegradation

The formation of a protein nanobiofilm on the surface of degradable biomaterials such as magnesium (Mg) and its alloys influences metal ion release, cell adhesion/spreading, and biocompatibility. During the early stage of human body implantation, competition and interaction between inorganic species and protein molecules result in a complex film containing Mg oxide and a protein layer. This film affects the electrochemical properties of the metal surface, the protein conformational arrangement, and the electronic properties of the protein/Mg oxide interface. In this study, we discuss the impact of various simulated body fluids, including sodium chloride (NaCl), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and Hanks' solutions on protein adsorption, electrochemical interactions, and electrical surface potential (ESP) distribution at the adsorbed protein/Mg oxide interface. After 10 min of immersion in NaCl, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM) showed a higher surface roughness related to enhanced degradation and lower ESP distribution on a Mg-based alloy than those in other solutions. Furthermore, adding bovine serum albumin (BSA) to all solutions caused a decline in the total surface roughness and ESP magnitude on the Mg alloy surface, particularly in the NaCl electrolyte. Using SKPFM surface analysis, we detected a protein nanobiofilm (∼10-20 nm) with an aggregated and/or fibrillary morphology only on the Mg surface exposed in Hanks' and PBS solutions; these surfaces had a lower ESP value than the oxide layer.