Michele Manuel, PhD, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida in Gainesville, has developed a surgical pin made from magnesium and is working to control the rate at which the pin biodegrades in the body. In laboratory tests, the pin offered several advantages over traditional titanium, plastic, or stainless steel pins.
“The idea with this pin is that it would dissolve over time, and after it’s finished, your body is basically in the same state it was before you had an injury,” stated Dr. Manuel. “Surgical pins don’t have to become permanent fixtures in the body.”
Michele Manuel, PhD
In addition to being biodegradable, the pin also aids in the healing process. Magnesium builds bone, so it can function as a pin and as a nutrient. According to Dr. Manuel, the trick to using magnesium is controlling the rate at which it breaks down to give the body time to absorb the hydrogen that is release as a byproduct of breakdown. Along with controlling the rate at which the magnesium breaks down, Dr. Manuel is seeking to determine how much torque can be applied before the screw is stripped.
In laboratory tests, the magnesium pin has been inserted into the tibia of rats. X-rays show the rate at which the magnesium pins dissolve. At 6 weeks the new bone is indistinguishable from the bone before the break.
“People who have sensitivity to metal or inflammation from a foreign material in the body could benefit from this,” stated Dr. Manuel. “There are a lot of different applications that could be possible.”