In Vitro and In Vivo Degradation of the New Dissolvable Surgical Wire, Produced from Zn Based Low Alloy by Hot and Cold Drawing

The biocorrosion of a new surgical wire (0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 mm in diameter) obtained from a ZnMg0.004 alloy by hot and cold drawing was characterized using in vitro tests in a bovine animal serum solution and in vivo tests – through placement in the muscles of a rabbit and a in cat's broken paw. Corrosion gravimetric tests were carried out in a corrosive environment refreshed every 3 days and also one which remained unchanged throughout the test period. Electrochemical tests were performed in the same solution of serum as in gravimetric tests. Depending on the initial diameter, complete dissolution of the wire was observed after 36-78 days of immersion in periodically changed serum solution. None of the wires completely dissolved over 120 days in the unreplaced serum solution. The corrosion rate values determined in electrochemical and gravimetric tests were similar. After 90 days of in vivo tests, both in the body of the rabbit and the cat, the degradation of the wire was similar to in vitro tests in the unreplaced serum solution. No harmful effects were observed in the animals.