Abstract
Magnesium and its alloys have been used in the recent development of lightweight, biodegradeable implant materials. However, the corrosion properties of magnesium limit its usefulness. In a previous study, a micro‐arc oxidation (MAO) method was used to modify a Mg‐1.0 wt % Zn‐1.0 wt % Ca alloy surface, with the purpose of improving the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys. However, the blood compatibility of MAO‐treated Mg alloy is unknown. Results of cytotoxicity assays with bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells showed that extracts of MAO‐treated alloy significantly decreased cytotoxicity compared to titanium alloy extract. Results of blood compatibility tests showed that the MAO group had a decreased hemolytic ratio (2.25%) compared to the untreated Mg alloy group (24.58%) (p < 0.001). The MAO group showed significantly shorter prothrombin and thrombin times and significantly longer activated partial thromboplastin time than the untreated Mg alloy group. Arachidonic acid‐ and adenosine diphosphate‐induced platelet aggregations were significantly decreased by the untreated Mg alloy extract, and they were less affected by extract of MAO‐treated Mg alloy. In conclusion, MAO‐treated Mg‐1.0 wt % Zn‐1.0 wt % Ca alloy exhibits favorable blood compatibility characteristics and may be useful in the development of magnesium implant materials. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011.