Mohammad Taufiq Al Hakim Bahrudin, Nor Amira Syairah Zulkarnaini, Mokhamad Fakhrul Ulum, Hadi Nur, Mohd Al-Fatihhi Szali Januddi, Abdul Hakim Md Yusop
Iron has been increasingly studied over the past decade as a potential material for biodegradable bone implants due to its favorable mechanical strength and degradability. However, its slow corrosion rate in both in vitro and in vivo environments poses a challenge to its use as a temporary medical implant. In this study, the effects of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) addition on the corrosion behavior of an Fe matrix were assessed in two different solutions: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and protein-containing cell culture medium (RPMI-Pro). The results indicate a significant difference in the corrosion rate and behavior of Fe-rGO composites, with notably faster degradation observed in RPMI-Pro. Electrochemical and immersion tests revealed that rGO enhances the in vitro corrosion of Fe scaffolds, primarily due to its high surface area and favorable electrical conductivity, which accelerate redox reactions within the scaffolds. The Fe-0.5rGO sample immersed in RPMI-Pro exhibited a higher corrosion rate, as the adsorbed fetal bovine serum (FBS) proteins could facilitate Fe dissolution by complexing with Fe ions, thereby preventing the formation of a low-solubility, dense Fe-based oxide passive layer. This study establishes an important basis for highlighting the role of protein incorporation in SBF formulations used for corrosion testing of biodegradable metals. © 2026
Materials Research & Consultancy Group (MRCG), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia; Department of Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia; School of Human Resource Development and Psychology, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Johor Bharu, Malaysia; School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia; Center of Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy (CAMRY), Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia; Advanced Facilities Engineering Technology Research Cluster (AFET), Plant Engineering Technology (PETech) Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Industrial Technology, Johor, Masai, Malaysia
