Page 82 - Magnesium-based supports for stem cell therapy of vascular disease - Mónica Echeverry Rendón

CHAPTER 5
Abstract
Appropriate sterilization methods should be considered for highly reactive materials such as Mg alloys. The present study focused the influence of resp. steam autoclaving, dry-heating (170oC), UV irradiation and steam formalde- hyde on surface characteristics, composition and wettability of commercially pure Mg anodized in a silicate solution. Characterization of the samples was done by SEM, EDS and XRD. Surface free energy was calculated by contact angle measurement. Changes in biological activity were assessed in vitro as a hemolysis assay. Our results showed that UV treatment generated only minor surface changes, but that irregularly shaped surface pores might prevent full penetrance and sterilization of the assessed materials. Dry-heat induced cracks on the surfaces and formaldehyde affected the surface morphology. Despite autoclave was the treatment that showed the highest changes in the sur- face energy, it did not induce structural surface changes and therefore it was considered as the choice option for the sterilization of Mg samples.
Key words: sterilization, magnesium, steam autoclave, dry-heating, UV irradiation, steam Formaldehyde
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