Corrosion behavior and cytotoxicity testing of magnesium alloys with nominal composition Mg5Y4Nd (WE54) and Mg4Y2Nn1Sc1Mn (WES) and different way of processing were investigated. The WE54 and WES alloys contain several types of nano-sized precipitates of transient and stable phases that influence corrosion degradation in the EMEM medium.
Corrosion behavior is more influenced by larger structural components (oxide particles and eutectic on grain boundaries) than by the nanoparticles. Spreading of MG63 cells in all extracts is relatively good.
Spreading index values reach or exceed 0.7. Viability index diminishes with time slightly for the WE54 extracts, but the values after 24 hours exposure do not drop below 0.5.
The extract of the WES alloys in both conditions (as received and heat treatment T5) is cytotoxic.