Introduction: Magnesium-based metallic alloys have recently gained significant attention in scientific research due to their unique mechanical stability and biodegradability characteristics, making them promising candidates for various applications in tissue engineering, particularly as scaffolds to support cell growth. While magnesium alloys are already employed in clinical settings, such as osteosynthesis screws in hand surgery, previous studies have predominantly focused on their bone-specific biocompatibility, with limited understanding of their interaction with skin and connective tissue. Therefore, the development of functional and biocompatible cell carriers based on magnesium, aimed at promoting skin and connective tissue regeneration, represents a logical next step towards establishing magnesium as a versatile biomaterial.
Methods: Our study aimed to assess the impact of bioabsorbable magnesium alloys, specifically Mg-Y-RE-Zr, on human dermal fibroblasts in vitro. To achieve this objective, we conducted a series of biocompatibility tests following ISO 10993-5 guidelines, encompassing both direct and indirect cell contact scenarios. Key parameters evaluated included cytotoxicity, cell proliferation via XTT, LDH assays, and vital fluorescence staining, along with observations of cell morphology, migration, and colonization under light microscopy. It was particularly noteworthy that the investigation of these cellular responses correlated with the degradation of the metallic material and the development of corrosion products.
Results: Our findings indicate that resorbable magnesium alloys can serve as carrier materials in tissue engineering, interacting positively with human dermal fibroblasts. Notably, a controlled degradation process observed with coated magnesium surfaces demonstrated significant added value in terms of cell-specific biocompatibility compared to rapid degradation.
Conclusion: Our results hold promise for optimizing the design and application of magnesium-based materials in regenerative medicine contexts. They also offer initial insights into the interaction of magnesium alloys with skin and connective tissue, paving the way for a new class of materials in tissue engineering for plastic surgery applications.
