Fig. 10.

Characterization of the bone-implant interface. SEM images of the ZX00-implant interface with its corresponding elemental distribution maps and line scans of the corrosion layers after 6-, 12-, and 24- weeks of in vivo implantation performed at a) cortical bone (CB), and b) intramedullary cavity (IMC). Lines scans were performed from the outer part (A) to the inner part (B) of the corrosion layer, as depicted by red arrows. (n = 5 line scans/bone compartment/timepoint from 3 independent samples). c) corrosion layer thickness measurements from selected CB and IMC zones. d) semi-quantitative analyses of the changes of the Ca/P ratio, O, Mg, P, and Ca concentrations (at.%) at bone regions in immediate contact with the corrosion layer at different time points. e) The bone-implant contact (BIC) was determined at the cortical bone and intramedullary cavity compartments. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation. (c) n = 110–230 measurements/time point on three independent samples, d) n = 62–85 measurements/time point on three independent samples. (n = 6 regions/time points from 3 independent samples). The Orange dotted line in image a) at 24 weeks denoted the corrosion layer-bone interface. (The figure should be printed in color).