Hydrothermally Deposited Mg Phosphate Coatings Improve Pure Mg Substrate's Biocompatibility and Corrosion Resistance for Biomedical Applications

Magnesium-based implants have garnered significant interest in orthopedic applications because of their favorable biodegradability, biocompatibility, and good mechanical strength. However, their rapid corrosion rate presents a considerable obstacle to widespread clinical adoption. This study investigates the application of a phosphate coating to pure magnesium substrates, exploring the impact of pH and hydrothermal temperature on phase composition to mitigate rapid degradation and preserve mechanical integrity. Although controlled temperature and pH in the precursor solution enabled the deposition of a uniform, dense, and defect-free magnesium phosphate coating via in situ conversion of pure magnesium, excellent corrosion resistance and minimized degradation led to vastly improved in vitro performance of these coatings on pure magnesium metal compared to the uncoated substrate.