ORCID

0009-0004-8567-8378

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Major(s)

Biomedical Engineering

Document Type

Temporary Embargo for Patent/Proprietary Reasons then Open Access

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to further explore the capabilities of magnesium metal to serve in biodegradable orthopedic implant applications. Current standards for orthopedic implants involve metals that cause many issues such as high risk of infection due to the need for secondary surgery. Despite magnesium’s biocompatibility, it presents a challenge that will be addressed in this thesis: a fast degradation rate. To combat this problem, hydroxyapatite (HA), an integral component of bone, was used to coat the surface of magnesium scaffolds and offer a slower degradation rate. Previous Priddy Lab studies have confirmed the presence of HA coating by the process of solution deposition over the course of 16-32 hours; our study observed the most pivotal times of HA crystallization at 4, 8, 12, and 18 hours by mass measurements, and imaging was conducted to study its distinct morphological patterns. A chemical analysis was performed at various timepoints to establish a timeline of calcium concentrations in solution. These results enabled the finetuning of coating protocols that will ultimately aid in tailoring hydroxyapatite layering on magnesium scaffolds. Thus, the control of the degradation process provides the basis for achieving a future use of magnesium in biodegradable orthopedic implants.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54718/NXFL1469

Date Defended

4-29-2025

Thesis Director

Lauren Priddy

Second Committee Member

David Van Den Heever

Third Committee Member

Matthew Peaple

Rights Statement

"Analyzing The Chemical Composition & Morphology of Hydroxyapatite Coating On Magnesium Biomaterials", Copyright 2025 by Your Name. All rights reserved.

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