In vitro investigation of Mg–Zn–Ca–Ag bulk metallic glasses for biomedical applications

• Mg–Zn–Ca–Ag BMGs possess enhanced corrosion resistance due to Ag incorporation.
• Ag addition decreases the glass-forming ability of the Mg–Zn–Ca alloys.
• Mg–Zn–Ca–Ag BMGs exhibit suppressed hydrogen evolution and good cytocompatibility.

For the purpose of developing biodegradable magnesium alloys with suitable properties for biomedical applications, Mg–Zn–Ca–Ag metallic glasses (MGs) were synthesized by copper-mold casting and melt spinning. The effects of Ag addition on the glass formation, thermal stability, microhardness, hydrogen evolution, corrosion resistance, and cytocompatibility of the Mg-based glassy alloys were studied in vitro. The corrosion resistance and the capability of suppressing the hydrogen evolution are enhanced for the Ag-containing alloys, in comparison to the Mg–Zn–Ca MG, though the incorporation of Ag decreases the glass-forming ability but influences insignificantly on microhardness. The higher cellular viability of the Ag-containing alloys than that of the Ag-free alloy was also revealed by direct cell-culture experiments. Thus, Mg–Zn–Ca–Ag MGs possess the potential to be employed as biodegradable materials.