Degradation-retarding and Osteoactive Micro-nano Porous Surface Structure on Magnesium Alloy

HE Jianbin; LI Yixin; SONG Luyao; REN Jianzeng; JIN Weihong; YU Zhentao

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.14.017

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (14) : 189-204. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.14.017

Functional Surfaces and Technology

Degradation-retarding and Osteoactive Micro-nano Porous Surface Structure on Magnesium Alloy

HE Jianbin^1,2, LI Yixin^1,2, SONG Luyao^1,2, REN Jianzeng^1,2, JIN Weihong^1,2,3,*, YU Zhentao^1,2,*

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Abstract

Magnesium alloys are promising candidate materials for guided bone regeneration membranes due to their good biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, their degradation process is often accompanied by local alkalization and excessive release of metal ions, significantly affecting cell activity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to slow down the degradation of magnesium alloys and promote osteoblast activity through surface modification. A micro-nano porous structure was fabricated on the surface of AZ31B magnesium alloy via electrochemical treatment combined with acid pickling process. The surface morphology, composition, roughness, wettability, and degradation behavior were characterized with surface characterization methods and electrochemical tests, and the biological performance was evaluated through in vitro cell experiments. Herein, a micro-nano porous structure was successfully constructed on the surface of AZ31B Mg alloy via a combination of electrochemical porous treatment and acid washing. The pores exhibited an average major axis of (2.47 ± 1.79) μm and an average minor axis of (1.10 ± 1.12) μm, and were designed to attenuate degradation and promote osteogenic activity. Owing to the weakly hydrophobic nature, the pores generated an "air cushion effect" that hindered the rapid infiltration of corrosive media, thereby slowing the degradation of the Mg substrate. Specifically, the trapped air within the pores reduced the effective contact area between the corrosive solution and the substrate, delaying the initial electrochemical attack and contributing to a relatively stable surface microenvironment during the early immersion stage. This effect was beneficial for preserving the structural integrity of the Mg alloy substrate and mitigating the adverse effect of excessively rapid degradation on surrounding cells and tissues. The porous structure increased the number of anchorage sites at the cell-material interface and promoted significant elongation of pseudopodia, thereby enhancing cell adhesion. Such topographical features facilitated cytoskeletal organization and spreading behavior, indicating that the porous surface provided more effective physical support for early cell attachment. The enhanced extension of pseudopodia also suggested stronger cell-substrate interactions, which was closely related to improved cellular activity. Meanwhile, the weak hydrophobicity facilitated protein adsorption, increasing the surface protein adsorption amount to approximately (0.527 ± 0.018) μg/cm², which was significantly higher than that of the AZ31B substrate (0.398 ± 0.048 μg/cm²), thereby further promoting early cell adhesion. Increased protein adsorption was of particular importance, as adsorbed proteins served as initial biological cues that mediated subsequent cell recognition and attachment. Thus, the synergistic effect of the porous topography and weak hydrophobicity created a more bioactive surface for early-stage cell responses. Consequently, this structure demonstrated excellent proliferative performance in cell culture, with cell viability reaching (104.8 ± 4.2)% on day 1, confirming its cell growth promoting properties. This result further indicated that the constructed porous surface could effectively support early cellular adaptation and proliferation without inducing obvious cytotoxic effects. Overall, this micro-nano porous structure serves as a versatile platform, providing insights and a technical foundation for the surface functionalization and performance optimization of Mg-based biomaterials. The present work demonstrates that rational surface microstructure design is an effective approach for achieving synergistic regulation of degradation behavior and bioactivity, and may offer valuable guidance for the future development of high-performance biodegradable Mg-based implants.

Key words

magnesium alloys / micro-nano porous structure / protein adsorption / cell adhesion / cell proliferation / hemocompatibility

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HE Jianbin, LI Yixin, SONG Luyao, REN Jianzeng, JIN Weihong, YU Zhentao. Degradation-retarding and Osteoactive Micro-nano Porous Surface Structure on Magnesium Alloy[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(14): 189-204

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