Multifunctional zinc oxide loaded stearic acid surfaces on biodegradable magnesium WE43 alloy with hydrophobic, self-cleaning and biocompatible attributes

[Display omitted] •Stearic-acid zinc oxide coatings on biodegradable WE43 alloy.•Hydrophobic surfaces due to surface chemistry and topography.•Binding of hydroxyl groups with carbonyl groups rendering a chemically and mechanically stable surface.•Excellent degradation resistance with no Mg(OH)2 formation along with biocompatibility. Biodegradable Mg alloys are one of the most promising materials for implant applications, for which the widespread use is hampered by rapid degradation in physiological environment. The present study explores the development of a novel zinc-oxide (ZnO) loaded stearic acid (SA) coating on medical grade WE43 alloy using a facile, and environment-friendly technique for promising biomaterial surface applications. Morphology and chemical analyses reveal the development of a layered coating surface with uniformly dispersed ZnO nanoparticles in SA matrix. The developed coating exhibits hydrophobic performance (contact angle of 135°) along with the retainment of hydrophobicity under varying chemical (acidic pH of 1 and basic pH of 13) and mechanical (post scratch testing and peel-off studies) conditions. The observed surface water repellency facilitates self-cleaning performance pointing towards its efficacy against potential biofilm formation. The developed coating demonstrates superior resistance against surface degradation during immersion studies in phosphate buffer saline solution (pH = 7.4) and better cell viability with MG-63 (human osteosarcoma) cell line. The approach presented here sets a platform for the development of efficient coatings on biodegradable WE43 alloys surfaces for potential biomaterial technologies.