For the purpose of developing biodegradable magnesium alloys with suitable properties for biomedical applications, Mg-Zn-Ca-Cu metallic glasses were prepared by copper mold injection methods. In the present work, the effect of Cu doping on mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and glass-forming ability of Mg 66 Zn 30 Ca 4 alloy was studied. The experimental findings demonstrated that the incorporation of Cu decreases the corrosion resistance of alloys, but increases the microhardness and degradation rate slightly. However, the addition of a trace amount of Cu can make the samples have antibacterial properties. Therefore, Mg-Zn-Ca-Cu has great advantages in clinical implantation and is the potential implant material.

Mg-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) is a biodegradable metal with significant potential advantages as an implant material. To investigate the effect of Sr addition on the glass-forming ability (GFA) and its effect on the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviours of Mg-Zn-Ca-Cu BMG, a series of Mg 66-x Zn 29.5 Ca 4 Cu 0.5 Sr x (x = 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 at.-%) were synthesised and investigated in this study. Microstructural characterisation, GFA and corrosion resistance measurements were carried out by XRD, DSC, SEM, immersion and electrochemical corrosion tests. The results showed that the addition of Sr improved the GFA and mechanical properties and enhanced and adjustable corrosion performance. In addition, the mechanical and corrosion property analyses showed that the Mg 65.7 Zn 29.5 Ca 4 Cu 0.5 Sr 0.3 alloy exhibited the best mechanical properties and bio-corrosion resistance.

Numerous missense mutations have been reported in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease which is one of the most common renal genetic disorders. The underlying mechanism for cystogenesis is still elusive, partly due to the lack of suitable animal models. Currently, we tried to establish a porcine transgenic model overexpressing human PKD2-D511V (hPKD2-D511V), which is a dominant-negative mutation in the vertebrate in vitro models. A total of six cloned pigs were finally obtained using somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, five with functional hPKD2-D511V died shortly after birth, leaving only one with the dysfunctional transgenic event to survive. Compared with the WT pigs, the demised transgenic pigs had elevated levels of hPKD2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, no renal malformation was observed, indicating that hPKD2-D511V did not alter normal kidney development. RNA-seq analysis also revealed that several ADPKD-related pathways were disturbed when overexpressing hPKD2-D511V. Therefore, our study implies that hPKD2-D511V may be lethal due to the dominant-negative effect. Hence, to dissect how PKD2-D511V drives renal cystogenesis, it is better to choose in vitro or invertebrate models.

Compared with traditional magnesium alloys, magnesium-based metallic glasses exhibit favorable properties, making them potential materials for clinical implants. In this work, to develop magnesium-based metallic glasses suitable for different degradation requirements, the effects of different structures of Mg-Zn-Ca-Cu alloys on their corrosion resistance were investigated. Mg 66 Zn 29.5 Ca 4 Cu 0.5 metallic glasses were prepared by copper mold injection, and the alloys were heat treated at 90°C, 160°C, 230°C, and 270°C. The phase composition was determined by X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical tests and hydrogen evolution experiments were carried out in a simulated liquid at 37°C. The results show that the corrosion resistance of the alloy is seriously affected by its microstructure.