To improve the mechanical reliability of thin-walled lithium disilicate (LD) veneers, this study developed a strengthening strategy that integrates vat photopolymerization (VP) with a two-step ion-exchange (IE) process. VP was employed to fabricate thin-walled LD structures, eliminating machining-induced damage, while a sequential K+/Rb+ IE process achieved both sufficient IE depth and compressive stress, overcoming their conventional trade-off. The two-step IE process increased the flexural strength of LD by 52.0% to 448.6 +/- 31.5 MPa and improved the fracture toughness by 80.4% to 2.64 +/- 0.10 MPa m1/2 . The significant enhancement in mechanical performance was mainly attributed to a 349% increase in compressive stress (CS), reaching 141.9 +/- 4.4 MPa. The atomic force microscope revealed that the ultrahigh CS was attributed to the volumetric expansion of an amorphous phase. Under scratching loads of 100 mN above the brittle-ductile transition threshold (similar to 70mN), the coefficient of friction of IE-processed LD increased by nearly 50%, indicating a transition in energy dissipation from brittle crack initiation to localized plastic deformation. Overall, the VP-fabricated LD, after undergoing the two-step IE processing, exhibits markedly enhanced strength and toughness. This improved mechanical performance effectively resists crack initiation and propagation caused by sharp contacts, thereby contributing to the superior long-term reliability of the LD veneers in the oral masticatory environment. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Zn-0.4 Sr and Zn-0.8 Sr (wt%) alloys (denoted ZS0.4 and ZS0.8) were processed by a single-pass friction stir processing (FSP) using a non-shouldered spiral tool (10 mm diameter, 2° tilt angle) at 1300 rpm, 200 mm/min traverse speed, and ∼1 mm plunge depth at room temperature. Mechanical properties were evaluated using tensile testing, nanoindentation, and Vickers and Brinell hardness measurements. Corrosion and degradation behaviors were assessed via electrochemical polarization and 30-day immersion in Hanks' solution and DMEM + FBS. Tribocorrosion resistance was examined by reciprocating friction tests under dry conditions and in liquid-wetted environments of Hanks' solution and DMEM + FBS. Biological performance was assessed using MC3T3-E1, MG-63, and hBMSC cultures, along with a rat subcutaneous implantation model. The horizontally tested ZS0.8 exhibited an exceptional strength-elongation product of 4.1 GPa%, with an ultimate tensile strength of 258 MPa, a yield strength of 210 MPa, an elongation of 15.9%, and a nanoindentation hardness of 2.6 GPa for the SrZn13 phase, compared with 0.7 GPa for the α-Zn matrix. Electrochemical corrosion rates of ZS0.8 were 388 μm/y in Hanks' and 216 μm/y in DMEM + FBS, while 30-day degradation rates were 44.9 μm/y and 27.2 μm/y, respectively. ZS0.8 also exhibited superior tribocorrosion resistance. Biologically, 25% and 50% extracts of ZS0.8 enhanced MC3T3-E1 and MG-63 viability, promoted hBMSC osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, showed potent anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity both in vitro and in vivo, and maintained good biosafety. These findings demonstrate a favorable balance of mechanical, degradation, and biological properties for load-bearing bone-fixation applications.

Additive manufacturing offers an effective approach for fabricating biodegradable porous scaffolds that can adapt to the mechanical properties of jawbones. Zinc (Zn) and its alloys are considered promising degradable materials due to their appropriate degradation rates, favorable mechanical properties, and diverse biological functionalities. Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been shown to promote the growth of vascular endothelial cells and significantly enhance the vascularization ability of implant materials. In this study, a porous ZnO/Zn scaffold with a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure and ∼75% porosity was fabricated via binder-jetting 3D printing and subsequently sintered at 800, 900, 1000, and 1100°C. The sintered scaffold was systematically evaluated for its microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biological properties both in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that the porous ZnO/Zn scaffold contained α-Zn and ZnO phases, and with increasing sintering temperature, the α-Zn phase gradually transformed into ZnO, leading to a progressive decrease in degradation rate and Zn2+ release. The sintered scaffold exhibited compressive strength comparable to cancellous bone, good cytocompatibility, enhanced osteogenic and angiogenic potential in vitro, and measurable antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the scaffold effectively promoted bone integration in vivo, suggesting its potential for the repair of oral and maxillofacial bone defects, although further studies and clinical validation are required. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work reports the successful fabrication and comprehensive evaluation of a porous ZnO/Zn scaffold featuring a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure, fabricated via binder-jetting 3D printing technology, for next-generation maxillofacial bone-defect repair. Our findings demonstrated that the 75% porosity scaffold exhibits compressive strength comparable to human cancellous bone, satisfying the mechanical requirements for jawbone applications. The scaffold integrates robust biocompatibility with multifunctional bioactivity, as its composition potently promotes osteoblast viability, enhances vascular endothelial cell growth, and stimulates osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Critically, the scaffold demonstrates notable in vitro antibacterial properties and effectively promotes bone integration in vivo, positioning it as a promising degradable implant with tailored mechanical adaptation and enhanced vascularization capability for maxillofacial reconstruction.

BACKGROUND:The treatment of infected bone defects remains challenging due to persistent infection, insufficient local drug delivery, and a disrupted repair microenvironment. Conventional porous titanium (Ti) scaffolds lack antibacterial functionality, while systemic antibiotics often fail to achieve adequate local concentrations. To address these limitations, this study designed a composite scaffold integrating localized sustained-release antibacterial capability and mechanical compatibility. METHODS:A gyroid porous Ti scaffold with ∼74% porosity and ∼0.82 mm pore size was fabricated via selective laser melting. It was subsequently infused with a sodium alginate/gelatin (SG) hydrogel loaded with kanamycin sulfate (KS) at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/mL, forming Ti@SG + KS2.5, Ti@SG + KS5, and Ti@SG + KS10 composite scaffolds. These were characterized for microstructure, mechanical properties, drug release, antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility through in vitro and in vivo evaluations, including antibacterial and antibiofilm assays, cell-migration and tube-formation tests, subcutaneous implantation, and an infected bone defect model in rats. RESULTS:The composite scaffolds retained an open gyroid pore structure with mechanical properties suitable for bone repair, exhibiting compressive yield strengths of 27.9-29.2 MPa and elastic moduli of 0.55-0.58 GPa. The Ti@SG + KS10 scaffold demonstrated strong and sustained antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, promoted collagen deposition, and suppressed excessive inflammation. In a rat infected bone defect model, it effectively eradicated local infection and significantly enhanced trabecular bone formation, with bone volume and maturity markedly exceeding those of the pure Ti control, along with notable systemic biosafety. SIGNIFICANCE:This study successfully developed a multifunctional Ti‑based composite scaffold that provides mechanical support, localized sustained antibacterial release, and osteogenic enhancement. The scaffold effectively addresses key challenges in the repair of infected bone, such as infection control and microenvironment regulation, thereby offering a promising integrated strategy for the clinical management of infected bone defects.

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 (σuts) of ∼301.7 MPa, a yield strength of ∼245.0 MPa, an elongation at break (ε) of ∼33.5%, the lowest σuts 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: σUTS of ∼301.7 MPa, σYS 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.

As an indispensable organic component of human physiological fluids, glucose plays a crucial role in regulating the biochemical microenvironment of implanted biomaterials, thereby potentially altering their corrosion and degradation behavior. This study systematically investigated the degradation behavior of a Zn-0.8 Mg alloy during 50-day immersion in Hanks' solution with various glucose concentrations, with a particular focus on the corrosion mechanism of the anodic second phase, Mg2Zn11. Combining immersion testing and electrochemical measurement, the effects of different glucose concentrations and the presence of the Mg2Zn11 second phase on the corrosion performance of the alloy were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that glucose concentration not only significantly regulated the degradation rate of the Zn-0.8 Mg alloy, but also exerted a decisive influence on the composition and morphological characteristics of corrosion products. The main degradation products of the alloy were phosphates (Ca3(PO4)2 and Zn3(PO4)2) with traces of Zn(OH)2 and CaCO3. Furthermore, the galvanic-coupling effect formed between the anodic phase Mg2Zn11 and the eta-Zn matrix accelerated localized corrosion and intergranular corrosion emerged on the alloy. This study provides a novel perspective for understanding the corrosion mechanism of biodegradable zinc-based alloys in physiological environments.

Magnesium (Mg) alloys have shown great potential as biodegradable orthopedic-fixation materials owing to their favorable degradability, elastic modulus comparable to that of natural bone, and beneficial biological functionalities. However, their rapid degradation, poor biotribological performance, and insufficient biofunctionality limit their clinical application. To overcome these limitations, this study developed a biodegradable Mg-1Sr-1Zr-3Ho (MSZH) alloy using a combined approach of multi-elemental alloying, ultrasonic vibration, and hot extrusion. The hot-extruded (HE) MSZH alloy demonstrated an ultimate tensile strength of similar to 293 MPa, tensile yield strength of similar to 212 MPa, elongation at break of similar to 11.5%, ultimate compressive strength of similar to 513 MPa, compressive yield strength of similar to 194 MPa, and compressive strain of similar to 17.6%, all of which exceeded those of the HE Mg-1Sr-1Zr (MSZ). The HE MSZH displayed the lowest electrochemical corrosion rate of approximately 0.19 mm/y and degradation rates of 0.42 mm/y via weight loss and 1.20 mm/y via hydrogen evolution after 7 d of immersion in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium+fetal bovine serum among all samples, indicating markedly improved corrosion resistance compared with MSZ. The 25% HE MSZH extract demonstrated exceptional cytocompatibility, angiogenic activity, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization. Additionally, the HE MSZH exhibited significant antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo. In a rat femoral-defect model, it showed further enhanced angiogenesis, bone-tissue regeneration, integration, and an in vivo degradation rate of 0.93 mm/y while demonstrating favorable biosafety compared with pure Mg.

Biocorrosion is a crucial process that occurs when implanted metallic materials with different electrochemical properties interact with physiological body fluids. Advanced simulation tools enable corrosion simulations before manufacturing, significantly reducing the need for extensive experimental validation. The present work aims to design an experimental simulation of a three-cell electrode setup of Zr60Cu25Al10X5 (X = Ag, Ti, Fe) Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) in various simulated bodily fluids (SBFs). The characterization of three-cell electrode electrochemical setup was performed using the electrical module of Ansys Mechanical software. The BMG alloys were subjected to biocorrosion simulations in different SBFs that mimicked the potentiodynamic polarisation experiment. The corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion current density (Icorr) were derived from the simulation experiments to correlate with the experimental values. The electrochemical simulated measurements demonstrate that the Zr60Cu25Al10Ti5 and Zr60Cu25Al10Fe5 BMG alloys exhibited minimal corrosion rate in Artificial Saliva Solution (ASS) (0.077 mm per year), followed by Artificial Blood Plasma Solution (ABP) (0.390 mm per year) and highest in Phosphate Buffered Saline Solution (PBS) (0.603 mm per year). Furthermore, at lower electric field intensities, the electrode potential undergoes a positive phase shift, leading to reduced generation of OH− ions. Consequently, the pH decreases, thereby enhancing corrosion resistance in ASS. Therefore, corrosion simulations reliably replicate experimental results, clearly demonstrating the model's robust predictive capability and minimizing the need for extensive experimental validation.

Zirconium (Zr) alloys have been extensively investigated as potential orthopedic implant materials due to their unique combination of favorable mechanical properties, minimal magnetic interference, high corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, improving their elastic admissible strain while maintaining adequate ductility remains essential for achieving reliable high performance in clinical applications. In this study, spinodal Zr70Ta30, Zr60Ta40, and Zr50Ta50 (at. %) alloys were selected from the miscibility gap based on the Zr-Ta phase diagram and prepared using suction casting. Their microstructure, mechanical properties, wear and corrosion resistance, magnetic susceptibility, and biocompatibility were systematically investigated. Spinodal decomposition in the Zr-Ta alloys produced alternating nanoscale Zr-rich beta 1 and Ta-rich beta 2 phases, endowing the alloy with outstanding yield strength (sigma ys) and elastic admissible strain (delta), and favorable elongation at break (epsilon b). In particular, the Zr70Ta30 alloy exhibited the best combination of mechanical properties with a sigma ys of similar to 1374 MPa, delta of similar to 1.70 %, and epsilon b of similar to 11.6 %. The wear resistance of the Zr-Ta alloys increased with increasing Ta content, whereas their corrosion resistance decreased correspondingly. The magnetic susceptibilities of the Zr-Ta alloys were approximately one-third that of the medical Ti6Al4V alloy. In addition, the Zr-Ta alloys showed relative cell viabilities exceeding 96 % toward MCT3-E1 cells. Overall, the spinodal Zr70Ta30 alloy demonstrates strong potential as an orthopedic implant material due to its optimal combination of sigma ys, delta, and epsilon b, together with effective wear and corrosion resistance and suitable biocompatibility. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This study investigates the microstructural and functional evolution of hot-extruded ZX21 and ZXM211 magnesium alloys subjected to laser surface melting (LSM). The effects of grain size, crystallographic texture, solute enrichment, and secondary phase characteristics on corrosion resistance and microhardness are systematically examined. LSM homogenizes the microstructure, weakens basal texture, and enables a uniform distribution of secondary phases, shifts corrosion toward less localized corrosion attack. Mn’s high melting point and low diffusivity favored solute retention in α-Mg during LSM, limiting second phase precipitations and promoting grain coarsening. Although potentiodynamic polarization indicated a higher average corrosion rate for LSM-treated ZXM211, the corrosion mode was more uniform, consistent with a lower second-phase fraction and a topology in which Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ embedded within Mg₂Ca limits effective cathode exposure and mitigates microgalvanic intensification. Despite these favorable microstructural changes, secondary precipitation strengthening remains negligible, and no significant improvement in hardness is observed post-LSM, though both as-extruded and LSM-treated states retained high microhardness.

Zinc (Zn) and its alloys are considered promising biodegradable metallic implant materials due to their moderate degradation rate, excellent biocompatibility, and multiple biofunctional properties. However, Zn alloys produced through conventional alloying and thermoplastic-deformation processes typically exhibit limited work-hardening capability, which constrains their clinical applicability. Heterostructure materials, characterized by unique microstructural architectures and strengthening mechanisms, provide a promising strategy to concurrently improve the strength and work-hardening capability of Zn-based materials. In this study, a series of multilayered Zn-4Cu (ZC)/Zn-0.5Mg (ZM) composite samples with bimodal grain size and varied layer thickness were successfully prepared using accumulative roll bonding (ARB) followed by annealing at 280°C for 5 min. The grains in the ZM layer grew up to 3.7 ± 1.9 µm, whereas the ZC layer retained fine grains (∼1 μm) in the annealed ZC/ZM composites. This multilayered bimodal structure, consisting of regions with distinct grain sizes and hardness, caused additional hetero-deformation-induced strengthening during tensile deformation, contributing ∼60% of the flow stress. Notably, the ZC1/ZM2 composite sample subjected to 4 ARB cycles after annealing showed a marked increase in uniform elongation from 6.5% ± 0.4% to 15.6% ± 0.3%, while the ZC2/ZM1 composite sample subjected to 8 ARB cycles after annealing achieved the highest yield stress of 343.5 ± 1.1 MPa. Furthermore, these composites exhibited good biocompatibility and antibacterial properties.

Titanium (Ti) alloys are sensitive to fretting wear. Integration of nano-silicon carbide (nano-SiC) was explored to develop wear-resistant Ti-based composites for implantation. In discontinuously reinforced metal-based composites, appropriate ceramic content is even more important than the addition strategy itself. This work explored the influence of nano-SiC content on microstructure, mechanical, tribological, electrochemical, antibacterial, and biological properties of xSiC/Ti-3Cu (x = 4, 8, 12 vol%) fabricated via low-temperature microwave sintering (800 degrees C). 8SiC/Ti-3Cu had the highest densification due to effective pore filling and uniform particle distribution, avoiding excessive SiC agglomeration observed at 12SiC/Ti-3Cu. Yield strength first increased to a maximum at 8SiC/Ti-3Cu then decreased with increasing SiC content. In contrast, wear rate first decreased then increased with increasing SiC content, and was minimum in 8SiC/Ti-3Cu. Furthermore, 8SiC/Ti-3Cu exhibited the highest corrosion resistance, attributed to better passive film regeneration. In vitro tests indicated that the incorporation of SiC has minimal impact on antibacterial properties and biocompatibility. In vivo tests indicated that 8SiC/Ti3Cu demonstrated superior osteointegration and in vivo biosafety (no pathological changes in major organs after 8-week implantation in rats). 8SiC/Ti-3Cu is identified as optimal composition, synergizing densification, mechanical properties, wear resistance, corrosion stability, antibacterial efficacy, and biocompatibility. The mechanisms were explored for SiC influencing the integrated structure-function relationship of microwavesintered SiC/Ti-3Cu composites.

Additively manufactured Fe-Mn alloys hold promise for biodegradable orthopedic load-bearing applications, yet their strength-ductility-strain hardening synergy is constrained by the formation of excessive epsilon-martensite under rapid cooling. In this study, a copper (Cu)-alloying strategy combined with laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to construct a multiphase structure comprising gamma-austenite (71.9-98.8 vol. %), epsilon-martensite, alpha-ferrite, and Cu-rich nano-precipitates. With the increase of Cu content, the texture was gradually weakened, and the greater heat accumulation led to more widely distributed dislocation cells, captured by the low angle grain boundaries. Mn and Cu segregation occurred in the dislocation cell walls, and the SFE (similar to 25.4 mJ/m(2)) of the Fe-18Mn-1Cu alloy was close to that of Fe-18Mn, resulting in a synergistic effect of TRIP and TWIP during deformation. Molecular dynamics (MD) indicated that, the combined TRIP/TWIP effects persistently form hard martensite and deformation twins, with interphase stress/strain-partitioning induced strengthening, enhancing the dislocation formation kinetics and improving the strength and hardening. In contrast, Fe-18Mn-3Cu primarily undergoes dislocation slip, depleting epsilon-martensite and diminishing strain hardening and relying on dislocation cells and minimal alpha '-martensite for strain accommodation. The Fe-18Mn-1Cu alloy shows higher ultimate tensile strength of 837 MPa, improved ductility of 16%, and a superior strain hardening rate of similar to 9000 MPa. This work refined the theoretical foundations for the multiphase structures design of Fe-Mn-Cu alloys through multi-scale experiments and simulations, and quantified the contribution of the strengthening mechanism, finally demonstrated the feasibility of their development in orthopedic load-bearing applications.

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are promising biomaterials due to their high strength, corrosion resistance, and favourable wear performance. This study systematically investigates the effects of micro-alloying with silver (Ag), titanium (Ti), and iron (Fe) (5 at. %) on the microstructure, thermal stability, nano-mechanical response, and tribological behaviour of Zr60Cu25Al10 BMG alloys. Rods fabricated through suction casting exhibited homogenous amorphous structures, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The Zr60Cu25Al10Ag5 and Zr60Cu25Al10Ti5 BMG alloys exhibited a substantial supercooled liquid region of approximately 80-87 K, indicating a high glass-forming ability. Furthermore, the Zr60Cu25Al10Ag5 alloy exhibited intermediate wettability with a contact angle of 87.15 degrees, suggesting strong potential for optimal interactions with both polar and non-polar biomolecules. Nanoindentation results indicated that the Zr60Cu25Al10Ag5 alloy displayed a significantly reduced elastic modulus (similar to 51 GPa), closely matching that of cortical bone. This characteristic has the potential to minimise stress shielding effects in implants. The alloys also demonstrated improved elastic recovery and resistance to shear banding, ensuring their structural integrity in a physiological environment. Tribological evaluation via nano-scratch testing showed that Zr60Cu25Al10Ti5 exhibited the best wear resistance and the lowest coefficient of friction (0.33) among the studied compositions. These findings highlight the effectiveness of micro-alloying with Ag, Ti, and Fe in tailoring the structural heterogeneity and mechanical performance of Zr-Cu-Al BMGs. The demonstrated improvements in modulus, wear resistance, and deformation stability firmly establish the potential of these alloys as next-generation metallic glasses for biomedical implant applications.

Biodegradable Fe-based alloys face significant challenges, including the strength-plasticity trade-off and limited biofunctionality, which severely restrict their clinical orthopedic application in orthopedics. Here, we report on a nano-heterostructural Fe-15Mn-0.6Se (wt.%) alloy with low magnetism, ultrahigh strength-elongation product, and potent antibacterial and antitumor capabilities. Due to its alternating nano-layered heterostructure of γ/ε/γ (γ-austenite, ε-martensite), the Fe-15Mn-0.6Se alloy exhibited extraordinary comprehensive mechanical properties with a yield strength of 1463 ± 5 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 1511 ± 4 MPa, and a fracture strain of 29% ± 3%. Moreover, this alloy showed superb antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, in vitro osteogenic bioactivity, and biocompatibility toward MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells, and also effective antitumor activity against MG63 osteosarcoma cells. In the rat jaw defect model, this alloy showed complete biosafety and exceptional osteogenic properties. Overall, the Fe-15Mn-0.6Se alloy is a promising biodegradable bone implant material due to its unique mechanical and biofunctional properties.

Silicon (Si) is considered an ideal candidate for next-generation Li-ion battery due to its high theoretical specific capacity (4200 mAh g(-1)), abundance, and low cost. However, Its significant volume expansion (similar to 300 %) and low intrinsic conductivity during lithiation lead to electrode pulverization and poor rate capacity. Considering that the additon of lower volume expansion SiO (similar to 150 %) and conductive assisted phosphorus (P) should improve cycling stability and rate capacity, P-doped Si and (Si + SiO) mixture were prepared via powder metallurgy. It was found that P doping resulted in Si peak shift compared to pure Si XRD peaks, indicating the presence of P in Si lattice. In terms of electrochemical properties, the P-doped composite anode material demonstrated an initial Coulombic efficiency of 74.65 %, and a reversible capacity of 1065.12 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 100 mA g(-1). The charge transfer impedance was significantly reduced to 103.6 Omega, while the lithium-ion diffusion coefficient increases to 1.21 x 10(-10) cm(2) s(-1). The synergistic effect of the buffer phase structure and P doping can not only alleviate stress concentration, but also provide efficient transport. This dual modification strategy provides an innovative solution to overcome the volume-expansion bottleneck of silicon-based anode materials.

OBJECTIVE:To fabricate personalized color-gradient dental lithium disilicate (LD) glass-ceramics by integrating computer-assisted color matching (CCM) with vat photopolymerization (VP). METHODS:The particle size and elemental composition of zirconium silicate (ZrSiO₄)-based pigments were evaluated using laser diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, respectively. 45 vol% resin-based slurries doped with Fe-Pr-V/ZrSiO₄ pigments were prepared. The rheological behavior and exposure parameters of monochromatic gradient-concentration slurries were analyzed using shear-rate sweep and working-curve methods. Diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy was used to establish a CCM database and evaluate the color-matching accuracy of LD based on the VITA 3D-Master shade guide. The sintering behavior of five LD ceramic shades (1M2-5M2) was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction, and their densities were determined using porosity analysis. The mechanical properties of the five classical shades of LD ceramics were evaluated via flexural strength testing, Weibull modulus analysis, fracture-toughness testing, Vickers indentation, and nanoindentation. A color-gradient maxillary central incisor crown was fabricated and its 3D accuracy was evaluated. RESULTS:Pigment particle sizes ranged from 5.9 to 8.9 μm with no interfacial defects in the LD matrix. Slurry viscosities at 50 °C were 2.3-2.5 Pa·s, while the red slurry required the highest exposure energy (12.2-16.7 mJ/cm²). Among the 26 predicted shades, 24 showed ΔE*ab < 3.7. After sintering, the relative density of the LD exceeded 99.5%. The LD specimens exhibited flexural strength of 380-428 MPa, fracture toughness of 2.94-3.50 MPa m¹ ᐟ², Weibull modulus > 10, Vickers hardness of 630-660 HV, and elastic modulus of 104-107 GPa. The color-gradient crown showed a root mean square deviation of 86.2 ± 5.7 μm. SIGNIFICANCE:This study demonstrates the integration of CCM and VP to fabricate color-gradient LD restorations, providing a precise and personalized strategy for esthetic dental application.

OBJECTIVES: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. METHODS: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. RESULTS: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. SIGNIFICANCE: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.

Compared to nano-Si, micro-Si can offer higher tap density, higher initial coulombic efficiency, and a lower-cost process, but is severely limited by significant volume expansion and inherently low electrical conductivity. To address these challenges, the sequential addition of Fe-B and pitch into the ball-milling process for Si refinement and mixture, followed by high-temperature treatment, enables in situ construction of a dual-engineered micro-nano architecture with an optimized core-shell structure. The internal micro-Si structure contains Fe and B doping elements and nano Fe-B intermetallic compounds (FexSiy), whereas the outer structure consists of nano SiC and a C dual-layer. The resulting (Si(Fe, B)/ FexSiy)@(SiC+C) composite architecture exhibits an excellent initial coulombic efficiency of 83.59% and outstanding rate capability, maintaining a capacity of 911.6 mA h/g at 1C (1C = 1000 mA/g). Furthermore, this composite structure can provide a lithium-ion diffusion rate approximately 89 times faster than Si and a reversible specific capacity of 878 mA h/g over 122 cycles at 0.2C, demonstrating better cycling performance under high-rate conditions.

The development of toxic element-free zirconium (Zr)-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with enhanced corrosion stability is crucial for next-generation orthopaedic implants. This work investigates the influence of Ag, Ti, and Fe micro-alloying in enhancing the electrochemical behaviour of Zr60Cu25Al10X5 (X = Ag, Ti, Fe) BMGs in simulated physiological environments. Rods fabricated by suction casting exhibited a homogeneous amorphous structure, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical measurements performed under simulated physiological and inflammatory conditions of artificial saliva solution (ASS, pH 6.2), artificial blood plasma (ABP, pH 7.4), and Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS, pH 7.4) exhibited corrosion responses driven by alloy chemistry and medium composition. The Zr60Cu25Al10Ti5 and Zr60Cu25Al10Fe5 alloys exhibited superior passivation behaviour, attributed to the formation of stable titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ferricoxide (Fe2O3) enriched passive films. However, the Zr60Cu25Al10 and Zr60Cu25Al10Ag5 alloys demonstrated less robust passive zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and aluminium oxide (Al2O3) surface films, leading to localised breakdown of the oxide layer and pitting corrosion. The corrosion resistance followed the order HBSS < ABP < ASS, highlighting the influential role of distinct pH and ionic composition ofdifferent simulated body fluids (SBFs). Furthermore, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry confirmed that the release of Zr,CuandAlare within the permissible thresholds required to maintain physiological homeostasis. Experimental observations demonstrated that micro-alloying is an effective strategy for tailoring passive film chemistry and enhancing the electrochemical stability of Zr-Cu-Al BMGs for biomedical implant applications.