Antitumor property of WE43 magnesium alloy subjected to anodic oxidation plus heat treatment

Magnesium (Mg) metal has been proved to have the ability to inhibit tumor growth because the degradation products could inhibit tumor, and anodic oxidation treatment plus heat treatment could improve this properties because of its controllable degradation. Rare earth elements (REE) have also demonstrated the ability to inhibit tumor growth. Among various magnesium alloys, WE43 magnesium alloy (marked as WE43) shows promising potential in curing bone tumors due to its ability to release REE such as Yttrium (Y), Gadolinium (Gd), and Neodymium (Nd). In this study, WE43 metal was modified by anodic oxidation plus heat treatment and marked as AO. The antitumor properties of AO material were studied. The results showed that WE43 had the similar anti-tumor properties as that of pure Mg metal, and AO material had significant improved antitumor property than WE43 and Mg metals. AO treatment could enrich REE on the surface of WE43, which made it release higher levels of REE (Y, Nd, and Gd) than WE43 metal without treatment. The high level of REE could improve the anti-tumor properties of the WE43 alloy. This results indicated that WE43 alloy subjected to anodic oxidation plus heat treatment has the potential to be utilized as an effective material for anti-bone tumor applications. [Display omitted] •AO treatment could enrich REE on the surface of WE43 alloy.•AO sample had better consistent resistant than Mg and WE43 metals.•AO had better antitumor property than Mg and WE43 metals.•In all groups, AO could release high levels of REE ions which inhibit tumor growth.•REE (Y, Nd, Gd) rather than Mg2+ or H2 was the major factor of killing tumor cells.