Preliminary Study on Cytotoxic Effect of Biodegradation of Magnesium on Cancer Cells

Biodegradation of magnesium (Mg) based metals in body fluid can lead to a strong alkalinity as well as an increase of Mg2+ concentration in its surrounding environment. In vitro cytotoxic effects of the extracts of pure Mg with and without micro arc oxidation (MAO) coating on osteosarcoma U2-OS cells, a kind of bone cancer cells, were preliminarily studied, independently considering the increase of either alkalinity or Mg2+ concentration. The results indicated that the high alkalinity, i.e., a great increase of pH value, caused by the degradations of Mg with and without MAO coating in the culture medium all showed strong cytotoxic effects on U2-OS cells. However, the increase of Mg2+ concentration had no such cytotoxic effect. This finding may provide an alternative way to cure bone cancers through creating a high alkalinity surrounding the cancer cells.