The exploration of degradable metallic biomaterials is a key area of inquiry in modern biomaterials research, and research has never been more intense than in the last decade. Profs. Kirkland and Birbilis have compiled Magnesium Biomaterials: Design, Testing, and Best Practice, the second volume in the ‘Springer Briefs in Materials’ series to address progress in absorbable magnesium and its alloys. This book contains five chapters and three appendices, which are as follows:
Introduction to magnesium biomaterials’, which discusses the motivation for research on absorbable magnesium biomaterials and challenges to their maturation.
Magnesium biocorrosion experiments’, a chapter that addresses the various approaches to corrosion evaluation of candidate magnesium-based biomaterials.
Influence of environmental variables on in vitro performance’, which addresses variables in corrosion experiments such as temperature, pH, solution composition and the misconceptions and common mistakes surrounding each parameter.
Developments in Mg-based alloys for biomaterials’, which summarizes the various classes of magnesium biomaterials and related corrosion behaviors and design considerations.
Summary of concluding remarks’, an ending that restates the authors’ opinions on challenges, future directions and open research questions.
The three appendices detail:
The preparation of a low-chloride-corrosion media developed by the authors.
Methods for studying tissue–biomaterial interactions (e.g. protein adhesion).
Nearly 130 published in vitro and in vivo corrosion experiments on magnesium and its alloys.
This book, written by top experts in the field, is arguably the best reference currently available for in vitro corrosion testing of magnesium biometals. A favorite literature reference on this topic is a related 2012 review by Kirkland, Birbilis and Staiger.1 The depth of discussion in the book far surpasses that of the review article, and, in a sense, the 2012 review can be viewed as a ‘condensed’ version of this monograph. The discussion of binary alloys, ternary alloys and materials selection strategies provides a good tool for the investigator. The discussion of various alloying elements is not exhaustive, and some relatively more complete reviews exist on this topic, but the authors do an excellent job of joining alloy development and in vitro corrosion experiences. The bibliography of this text is extensive (though, again, not exhaustive) and provides a good starting point to explore the relevant literature.
Among the few weaknesses of this book is insufficient detail on the difference between the kinetics and mechanism(s) of degradation. Detangling these aspects of physiological corrosion could have clarified some parts of the discussion. In addition, some key characterization methods, such as micro- and nano-computed tomography, are not discussed even though they have played a role in magnesium biomaterial development.
The typesetting, figure reproduction and physical construction of this book are very good overall. The only cosmetic flaw in this book is a bit of odd typesetting in some tables (e.g. Table 2.2) that confuses their content.
In summary, Magnesium Biomaterials: Design, Testing, and Best Practice is a highly recommended resource for the science and practice of in vitro magnesium biocorrosion, both for those entering the area, and for those with prior experience. Readers at all levels – from undergraduates to principal investigators – can benefit from this text, although junior researchers would be wise to approach this book only after mastering the basics of corrosion science.
