  Magnesium and its alloys are intriguing as possible biodegradable
biomaterials due to their unique combination of biodegradability and high
specific mechanical properties. However, uncontrolled biodegradation of
magnesium during implantation remains a major challenge in spite of the use of
alloying and protective coatings. In this study, a hybrid composite structure
of magnesium metal and a biopolymer was fabricated as an alternative approach
to control the corrosion rate of magnesium. A multistep process that combines
metal foam production and injection molding was developed to create a hybrid
composite structure that is topologically ordered in all three dimensions.
Preliminary investigations of the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior
exhibited by the hybrid Mg-polymer composite structures suggest a new potential
approach to the development of Mg-based biomedical devices.
