Visual and antibacterial magnesium implants with low biocorrosion and bioactive surface for in vivo tracking and treating MRSA infection

Magnesium (Mg) have a promising potential in orthopedic implantations and bone regeneration due to their biodegradation and resemblance modulus to native bone. However, the rapid corrosion/bacterial infection/single function probably limits their application. Herein, we utilized a facile surface self-assembly method to construct a multifunctional elastomeric bioactive poly(citrate-silicon) (PCS) coating on Mg through the ion bonding interaction (–COO-Mg) to obtain the Mg@PCS implants. Compared to the conventional Mg, Mg@PCS implants possess representative multifunctional properties including high corrosion resistance, low degradation and stable pH environment, controlled photoluminescence, robust antibacterial activity, enhanced cytocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation ability. The in vivo results suggested that Mg@PCS showed fluorescence-tracking ability, and could efficiently reduce the inflammatory response and treat the infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This work probably provides a reasonable strategy to develop visual bioactive implants with antiinfection for regenerative medicine.