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Introduction: With an average of 6.8 million fractures per year in the United States, the current method for surgical intervention involves bioinert materials that do not promote osteogenesis and can have inflammatory reactions that hinder bone healing. Magnesium has emerged in research due to the material’s biodegradability and biocompatibility; however, it has a low corrosion resistance, which can lead to hydrogen gas evolution and tissue necrosis. Therefore, magnesium is typically alloyed with rare earth elements (REEs) to increase corrosion resistance. The main goal of this study involves fabricating a magnesium (Mg)-based metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) containing scandium (Sc) and strontium (Sr) as alloying elements, as well as diopside (CaMgSi2O6) -based bioactive glass-ceramic nanoparticles for reinforcement. Methods: MMNCs were processed using ultrasonic melt processing and hot rolling to disperse nanoparticles and refine their microstructure. These MMNCs have undergone detailed tests to determine microstructure and degradation properties, followed by in vitro and in vivo tests to determine the MMNC’s biodegradation and biocompatibility characteristics. Results: Through cell culture with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) we determined that MMNCs provide in vitro cytocompatibility of >80%. Next, MMNC pins were implanted into rat femoral defects and monitored for 3 months post-implantation with the WE43 Mg alloy used as a control. Utilizing in vivo and ex vivo X-ray imaging and histology of these defects implanted with MMNC or WE43 pins, we found that our composite allows for no or minimal hydrogen gas evolution and fibrotic body response with osteointegration and new bone formation. Discussion: This allows for an understanding of potential applications of our composite as a biomaterial. 

A novel magnesium (Mg)-based metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) was fabricated using ultrasonic melt treatment to promote the de-agglomeration of the bioactive glass–ceramic nanoparticles and the homogenization of the melt. The cast samples were then heat treated, machined, and hot rolled to reduce grain size and remove structural defects. Standard mechanical and electrochemical tests were conducted to determine the effect of fabrication and processing on the mechanical and corrosion properties of MMNCs. Compression tests, potentiodynamic polarization tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and static immersion testing were conducted to determine the characteristics of the MMNCs. The results showed that the combination of ultrasonic melt processing and thermomechanical processing caused the corrosion rate to increase from 8.7 mmpy after 10 days of immersion to 22.25 mmpy when compared with the ultrasonicated MMNCs but remained stable throughout the immersion time, showing no statistically significant change during the incubation periods. These samples also experienced increased yield stress (135.5 MPa) and decreased elongation at break (21.92%) due to the significant amount of grain refinement compared to the ultrasonicated MMNC (σY = 59.6 MPa, elongation = 40.44%). The MMNCs that underwent ultrasonic melt treatment also exhibited significant differences in the corrosion rate calculated from immersion tests.