Zinc (Zn) and its alloys are used in bone-fixation devices as biodegradable bone-implant materials due to their good biosafety, biological function, biodegradability, and formability. Unfortunately, the clinical application of pure Zn is hindered by its insufficient mechanical properties and slow degradation rate. In this study, a Zn-5 wt.% lanthanum (Zn-5La) alloy with enhanced mechanical properties, suitable degradation rate, and cytocompatibility was developed through La alloying and hot extrusion. The hot-extruded (HE) Zn-5La alloy showed ultimate tensile strength of 286.3 MPa, tensile yield strength of 139.7 MPa, elongation of 35.7%, compressive yield strength of 262.7 MPa, and microhardness of 109.7 HV. The corrosion resistance of the HE Zn-5La in Hanks' and Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM) solutions gradually increased with prolonged immersion time. Further, the HE Zn-5La exhibited an electrochemical corrosion rate of 36.7 μm/y in Hanks' solution and 11.4 μm/y in DMEM solution, and a degradation rate of 49.5 μm/y in Hanks' solution and 30.3 μm/y in DMEM solution, after 30 d of immersion. The corrosion resistance of both HE Zn and Zn-5La in DMEM solution was higher than in Hanks' solution. The 25% concentration extract of the HE Zn-5La showed a cell viability of 106.5%, indicating no cytotoxicity toward MG-63 cells. We recommend the HE Zn-5La alloy as a promising candidate material for biodegradable bone-implant applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work reports the mechanical properties, corrosion and degradation behaviors, in vitro cytocompatibility and antibacterial ability of biodegradable Zn-5La alloy for bone-implant applications. Our findings demonstrate that the hot-extruded (HE) Zn-5La alloy showed an ultimate tensile strength of 286.3 MPa, a yield strength of 139.7 MPa, an elongation of 35.7%, compressive yield strength of 262.7 MPa, and microhardness of 109.7 HV. HE Zn-5La exhibited appropriate degradation rates in Hanks' and DMEM solutions. Furthermore, the HE Zn-5La alloy showed good cytocompatibility toward MG-63 and MC3T3-E1 cells and greater antibacterial ability against S. aureus.

Biodegradable Zn alloys have attracted considerable attention as candidates for load-bearing bone-fixation implants, yet simultaneously optimizing mechanical strength, corrosion-wear resistance, and multifunctional biofunctionalities remains challenging. Herein, a Zn-3Cu-0.8Sr (ZCS) alloy was successfully fabricated by a synergistic processing route that integrated hot rolling (HR) with deep-cryogenic rolling (DCR). The HR+DCR processing effectively refined coarse and brittle SrZn₁₃ and primary ε-CuZn₅ phases into uniformly dispersed, well-bonded fine reinforcements, while simultaneously promoting grain coarsening and precipitate growth by suppressing dynamic recovery and restricting atomic diffusion at cryogenic temperatures. This microstructural engineering strategy produced an optimal combination of mechanical properties, including an ultimate tensile strength (σ_uts) of ∼301.7 MPa, a yield strength of ∼245.0 MPa, an elongation at break (ε) of ∼33.5%, the lowest σ_uts loss of 12.5% and ε loss of 6.6% after 30 d of immersion in Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution, and the highest biotribological resistance among all thermomechanically processed specimens. The HR+DCR processed specimen exhibited the lowest electrochemical corrosion rate of ∼162 µm/y and degradation rate of ∼20.1 µm/y in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium with fetal bovine serum among all thermomechanically processed specimens. Notably, the alloy displayed enhanced osteoblast viability, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, and near-complete antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Moreover, the alloy effectively modulated the immune response, driving macrophage polarization toward a pro-healing M2 phenotype. Overall, the alloy combines high mechanical, biotribological, degradation, osteogenic, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory biofunctions, underscoring its potential for next-generation biodegradable orthopedic-fixation devices. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work reports a multifunctional Zn-3Cu-0.8Sr alloy fabricated using a synergistic hot rolling and deep-cryogenic rolling process for next-generation orthopedic applications. The alloy exhibits exceptional mechanical properties: σ_UTS of ∼301.7 MPa, σ_YS of ∼245.0 MPa, and ε of ∼33.5%, with minimal strength/ductility loss after 30-day immersion in Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS). It demonstrates a favorable electrochemical corrosion rate (∼162 µm/y), degradation rate (∼20.1 µm/y), and superior biotribological resistance in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (DMEM+FBS). Biologically, it enhances osteoblast viability and mineralization while providing near-complete S. aureus antibacterial efficacy in vitro and in vivo. This synergistic combination of strength, corrosion-wear resistance, and bioactivity highlights the alloy's significant potential for advanced biodegradable orthopedic applications.

To fabricate a zinc phosphate (ZnP) coating on 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal ZrO₂ polycrystal (3Y-TZP) with enhanced mechanical strength, adhesion, cytocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and osteogenic performance, this study offers a new approach for improving dental implants. The ZnP coating was synthesized on a substrate via hydrothermal treatment (150-250 ℃, 3 h) using a solution of zinc oxide, phosphoric acid, and nitric acid. The coated samples were characterized in terms of physicochemical properties, adhesion strength, flexural strength, and fracture morphology. Cellular responses, including viability, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, were assessed using CCK-8 assay, live/dead staining, phalloidin staining, alkaline phosphatase/Alizarin Red S assays, and real-time PCR. Antibacterial properties were evaluated based on colony-forming unit counts and bacterial adhesion assays in a rat subcutaneous infection model. Finally, in vivo bone formation and biosafety were analyzed by micro-computed tomography and histological examination after implantation. Increasing the hydrothermal temperature improved the coating thickness, roughness, wettability, and mechanical stability. The ZP-250 sample exhibited a 5B adhesion strength, which significantly enhanced MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, mineralization, and gene expression. Moreover, it demonstrated strong antibacterial effects against S. aureus and E. coli, promoted osseointegration, and showed full biosafety in a jaw defect model. The ZnP coating markedly improved the bioactivity of 3Y-TZP, addressing the challenge of bioinertness in dental implants. This innovation enhances long-term stability and clinical success, showing promising potential for clinical application.

Conventional medical gauze is likely to adhere to wounds and lacks tissue-healing and antibacterial capabilities, thus hindering removal and negatively affecting the wound-healing process. Here, we report the exceptional antiadhesive and antibacterial properties of a sandwich-structured complex gauze with wound-healing capability and biocompatibility. This gauze consisted of an outer and an inner layer of superhydrophobic gauze (SHG) and an internal layer of gauze that was loaded with different concentrations of myrrh (5, 10, and 20 g/L; denoted M5, M10, and M20, respectively). The results indicated that the myrrh-loaded complex gauze met the breathability standards for medical gauze. Even after 24 cycles of wear testing, the M10 sample showed extraordinarily high and stable superhydrophobicity. The in vitro and in vivo assessments demonstrated that the M10 exhibited good cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and cell migration capability in relation to L929 cells, as well as outstanding antibacterial and antiadhesive effects, mainly due to the appropriate amount of myrrh-loading promoting cell proliferation and imparting good antibacterial activity. Overall, the M10 gauze sample can be expected to effectively treat wound infections and demonstrate great potential for promoting wound healing.