Magnesium-carbonate apatite metal composite: Potential biodegradable material for orthopaedic implant

Magnesium and carbonate are important elements and available in the human body as biological apatites. Good absorbable biomaterial for implants is on the search. Biomaterial used in orthopaedic implants must fulfill some criteria, including the degradation time must be in parallel with the physiologic timeline of bone healing. Magnesium is also a biodegradable metal with characteristic similar to the bone. However, the degradation time is quite short. Incorporating magnesium with carbonate apatite involve a complex process. Studies found structural changes upon synthesis of the two elements. This review of the literature would analyze the potential of two elements, magnesium and carbonate apatite, as bioabsorbable orthopaedic implants. Modification to increase the corrosion resistance of the composite is also needed, as the material must be able to comply with the bone healing process before degrading or lose its mechanical properties.