# pH-Responsive mPEG-PLGA/Dexamethasone Coatings for Corrosion Control and Osteo-Immune Modulation of Biodegradable Magnesium

## TL;DR

A pH-sensitive coating with dexamethasone is developed to control magnesium implant corrosion and inflammation while promoting bone regeneration.

## Contribution

A novel pH-responsive mPEG-PLGA coating loaded with dexamethasone is introduced to modulate corrosion and osteo-immune responses in biodegradable magnesium implants.

## Key findings

- The coating suppressed inflammation in macrophages with minimal cytotoxicity.
- Bone volume and mineral density increased in rat femur defects with the coating.
- The coating promoted new bone formation and osseointegration.

## Abstract

This study aimed to control rapid localized corrosion and inflammation of biodegradable magnesium implants by developing a pH-responsive mPEG-PLGA coating loaded with dexamethasone (Dex). The mPEG-PLGA layer was designed to selectively degrade in alkaline conditions, thereby moderating pH elevation at the implant surface while enabling controlled Dex release. By varying the molecular weight of mPEG and PLGA, the degradation rate and microsphere size were tunable, allowing adjustment of the drug release profile. Among the tested coating solution concentrations (1.5–7.5 mg/mL), the formulation with 3 mg/mL Dex yielded a final cumulative release concentration of 0.02 mg/mL over a two-week period, which suppressed inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages with minimal cytotoxicity, while enhancing BMP-2 and RUNX2 expression in mesenchymal stem cells. In a rat femur defect model, Mg implants coated with mPEG-PLGA containing 3 mg/mL Dex significantly increased bone volume and bone mineral density and reduced early TNF-α expression, accompanied by continuous new bone formation and strong BSP-positive osseointegration. These findings suggest that the proposed pH-responsive mPEG-PLGA/Dex coating provides a promising strategy to simultaneously regulate corrosion, attenuate inflammation, and promote bone regeneration around magnesium implants.