The Role of Surfactants in Corrosion Protection in Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The increasing integration of biomedical devices into the human body necessitates advanced strategies for mitigating corrosion-related failures that compromise biocompatibility and device functionality. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the role of surfactants in enhancing corrosion protection in biomedical applications. Surfactants, owing to their amphiphilic nature, exhibit unique physicochemical properties that make them effective in forming protective films, reducing surface tension, and modifying surface interactions at metal/electrolyte interfaces. Various types of corrosion encountered in biomedical environments—such as pitting, galvanic, and crevice corrosion—are discussed, alongside the influence of environmental factors like the pH, temperature, and ionic composition of body fluids. The chapter highlights how cationic, anionic, nonionic, and zwitterionic surfactants interact with implant surfaces to impede electrochemical degradation and biofilm formation. Mechanisms of corrosion inhibition, including adsorption and steric stabilization, are analyzed in the context of surfactant structure and concentration. Case studies involving cardiovascular stents and bioresorbable magnesium-based implants illustrate the practical utility of surfactant-based coatings.