A novel powder metallurgy process for fabrication of magnesium–bioglass composite for orthopaedic applications and its biochemical assay

Abstract Failure at the bone–implant interface due to the difference in modulus is the primary cause of orthopaedic implant loosening. Multiple strategies are offered for enhancing osseointegration through tissue ingrowth with strong interfacial locking. The bioactive and bioresorbable metal–glass composite is designed for defect healing, which will ultimately be replaced by newly generated skeletal tissues. Conventional metallic biomaterials such as stainless steel, titanium, and cobalt–chromium alloys exhibit a substantially higher Youngs’ modulus compared to that of natural bone. This pronounced stiffness mismatch in bioresorbable load bearing implants leads to an undesirable stress-shielding effect that compromises long-term implant performance and bone remodelling. Conversely, magnesium based alloys are lightweight and exhibit lower mechanical properties when utilised in a porous form compared to real bone. Nonetheless, its accelerated deterioration in the electrolytic environment of bodily fluids leads to adverse effects due to hydrogen accumulation in-vivo and void formation at the defect location. Bioglass, a bioactive osteoconductive substance with suboptimal mechanical characteristics, can be combined with magnesium to enhance mechanical properties and adjustable degradability. This study focused on the development of a bioactive glass-reinforced magnesium composite to enhance machinable strength, reduce effective Youngs’ modulus, and improve in-vivo bioresorbability, serving as a template for skeletal tissue regeneration. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results show that the final product retains the essential physical features of both bioglass and magnesium. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy examination revealed the compositional distribution, while several microscopic analyses illustrated the microstructure of the synthesised composite. The developed material exhibits osteoconductivity and cytocompatibility; hence, the biocompatibility investigations may facilitate future applications.