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The Scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences have jointly developed new generation Iron-Manganese based alloys for biodegradable metal implants for use in humans.
Details
- Biodegradable materials (Fe, Mg, Zn, and polymer) can participate in the healing process (Like in case of fractures etc.) and then degrade gradually by maintaining the mechanical integrity without leaving any implant residues in the human body.
- Biodegradable materials are better alternatives to currently used metallic implants which remain permanently in the human body and can cause long-term side effects like systemic toxicity, chronic inflammation, and thrombosis.
- The ARCI team employed both conventional melting and powder metallurgy techniques in manufacturing of the new Fe-Mn based biodegradable alloys and stent.
- Iron-Manganese based alloy Fe-Mn (having Mn composition of more than 29% by weight) is a promising biodegradable metallic implant which exhibits single austenitic phase (non-magnetic form of iron) with MRI compatibility.
- The Fe-Mn alloy produced at ARCI exhibited 99% density with impressive mechanical properties and behaved as a nonmagnetic material even under a strong magnetic field of 20 Tesla.
- These properties are comparable to presently used permanent Titanium (Ti) and stainless-steel metallic implants.
- the Fe-Mn alloy exhibits mechanical integrity for 3-6 months and completely disappears from the body in 12-24 months.
