Tailored electrophoretic coatings for enhanced corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel implants using bioactive glasses

This study investigated the potential of 316L stainless steel coated with bioactive glasses for orthopedic implants by analyzing their corrosion resistance. To achieve this goal, novel bioglass compositions (BGs) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and characterized using various techniques, including FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, and BET. The results confirmed that the bioglasses were amorphous and had surface porosity with a nanometric average size of about 40 to 47 nm. The bioglasses’ bioactivity was assessed by immersing them in simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to 14 days. The 15-7510P bioglass displayed the highest acellular bioactivity, as evidenced by the rapid formation of a thick and continuous apatite layer on bioactive glass particles. Furthermore, the electrochemical corrosion behavior of 316L stainless steel substrate coated with bioactive glasses was evaluated using polarization and impedance in SBF solution at 37 °C and significantly improved compared to virgin 316 SS. The results showed that at 30 V with 0.5 g L⁻¹ of Cs, 4 g L⁻¹ of BG, and a deposition time of 10 min, the corrosion resistance of 316 SS was improved by the bioactive glass 15-7510P/chitosan coating composite. Cell viability and cytotoxicity of bioactive glasses were also analyzed using DPSCs and GMSM-K. The results demonstrated that the bioactive glasses had no harmful effects on cell viability.