Hydrogen Gas Escapes Quickly From Corroding Magnesium Implants in Mice
Fast escape of hydrogen from gas cavities around corroding magnesium implants
Research hubs: Musculoskeletal System · Skin & Dermatology System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Julia Kuhlmann, Ivonne Bartsch, Elmar Willbold, Sven Schuchardt, Olaf Holz, Norbert Hort, Daniel Höche, William R. Heineman, Frank Witte
- Journal
- Acta Biomaterialia
- Year
- 2013
- PMID
- 23069319
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas (Sustained Release)
- H₂ concentration
- low concentration
- Duration
- 10 days
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 312 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- United States
TL;DR
Scientists found that gas pockets formed by magnesium-based biodegradable implants in mice contain very little hydrogen, challenging the common belief that these cavities are filled with this gas.
Key Finding
Gas cavities around corroding magnesium implants contain only low concentrations of hydrogen gas, and hydrogen rapidly exchanges with surrounding tissue within approximately one hour.
Summary
Researchers implanted magnesium alloy disks in mice to study gas pockets that form around these materials as they break down in the body. Many scientists assumed these pockets were filled with hydrogen gas, a byproduct of magnesium corrosion. However, this study found that the gas pockets actually contained very little hydrogen, and what hydrogen was present escaped into surrounding tissue within about an hour.
Practical Takeaway
This is a laboratory study in mice examining magnesium implant safety rather than hydrogen water consumption. While it suggests hydrogen does not accumulate dangerously around magnesium implants, it does not provide evidence about health effects of drinking hydrogen water or inhaling hydrogen gas in humans.
Abstract (excerpt)
Magnesium materials are of increasing interest in the development of biodegradable implants as they exhibit properties that make them promising candidates. However, the formation of gas cavities after implantation of magnesium alloys has been widely reported in the literature. The composition…