Electrochemical stability and cell response of nanostructures elaborated on zirconium

The paper studies the electrochemical stability in physiological serum and cell response of nanostrucures obtained on Zr by anodizing in electrolytes containing fluorinated ethylene glycol and various amounts of K2CO3. SEM analysis revealed that the porous nanostructure formation is greatly influenced by the various K2CO3 concentrations in the electrolyte by tipping the balance between oxide formation and dissolution during the anodizing process. The porosities of the samples were evaluated from polarization resistances recorded in physiological serum. Chronoamperometric measurements were employed to establish a range of compactness for the samples. It was found that the amount of K2CO3 from the electrolyte is directly responsible in obtaining oxide strata more resistant to corrosion. All tests performed on the samples such as corrosion, hydrophylicity and cell viability with MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts cells from mouse bones revealed that the best coating for future research regarding nanostructured Zr implants was the one obtained from the electrolyte containing the highest amount of K2CO3.