The Biocompatibility and Self-Healing Effect of a Biopolymer’s Coating on Zn Alloy for Biomedical Applications
Katarzyna Cesarz-Andraczke,
Badegül Tuncay,
Wojciech Pakieła,
Zbigniew Brytan,
Magdalena Skonieczna,
Jana Bidulská,
Robert Bidulsky
Affiliations
Katarzyna Cesarz-Andraczke
Department of Engineering Materials and Biomaterials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Badegül Tuncay
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Karabuk University, 78050 Karabuk, Turkey
Wojciech Pakieła
Department of Engineering Materials and Biomaterials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Zbigniew Brytan
Department of Engineering Materials and Biomaterials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Magdalena Skonieczna
Department of Systems Biology and Engineering, Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Jana Bidulská
Department of Plastic Deformation and Simulation Processes, Institute of Materials and Quality Engineering, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Technical University of Kosice, Park Komenského 11, 04001 Kosice, Slovakia
Robert Bidulsky
Bodva Industry and Innovation Cluster, Budulov 174, 04501 Moldava nad Bodvou, Slovakia
The objective of this study was to formulate dip coatings, incorporating casein, NaOH, and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nanoHAp), with self-healing properties for application on ZnMg3.2 wt.% alloy in the field of biomedical applications. This study hypothesizes that the self-healing mechanism within the layer will impede substrate degradation by progressively filling defects where chlorides from simulated body fluids intervene. Furthermore, it aims to mitigate potential damage effects during the implantation process by the layer’s self-healing capabilities. The research focused on the dip-coating process parameters and chemical composition of baths for producing casein coatings on Zn alloy surfaces. This study investigated the impact of casein and NaOH concentration, along with the immersion time of ZnMg3.2 wt.% samples in the coating bath, on the self-healing capability of the coating under simulated human body fluid conditions (Ringer’s solution, temperature: 37 °C). Effective technology was developed by selecting specific chemical compositions and immersion times in the coating bath, enhancing the self-healing progress against coating damage in Ringer’s solution at 37 °C. The most significant self-healing effect was observed when the ZnMg3.2 wt.% substrate underwent a 1 h immersion in a coating bath containing 2 g of casein, 4 g of NaOH, and 0.1 g of nanoHAp powder. Electrochemical tests were instrumental in determining the optimal casein concentration and immersion time of the Zn alloy in the coating bath.
