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Copper-containing intrauterine devices (Cu-IUD) are adopted by worldwide women for contraception with the advantages of long-term effectiveness, reversibility and affordability. However, adverse effects occur in the initial implantation stage of Cu-IUD in uterine because of the burst release of Cu2+. To minimize the burst release, in this study, we designed a series of Cu–Fe alloys with 0.5 wt%, 1 wt% and 5 wt% Fe and also further produced ultrafine grained (UFG) structure for these alloys via equal-channel angular pressing. The microstructures and properties of the coarse grained (CG) Cu, CG Cu–Fe alloys and UFG Cu–Fe alloys were systematically investigated, including grain structure and phase compositions, metallic ions release behavior, electrochemical corrosion performance, and in vitro cytotoxicity. With careful comparison and selection, we chose the CG Cu–5Fe and UFG Cu–5Fe for in vivo tests using rat model, including tissue biocompatibility, in vivo corrosion behavior, and contraceptive effectiveness. Moreover, the corrosion mechanism of the Cu–5Fe alloy and its improved biocompatibility was discussed. Both CG and UFG Cu–5Fe alloys exhibited dramatic suppression of Cu2+ release in simulated uterine fluid for the long-term immersion process. The in vivo tissue compatibility was significantly improved with both CG and UFG Cu–5Fe alloys implanted in the rats' uterine while the high contraceptive efficacy was well maintained. Due to the superior biocompatibility, the CG and UFG Cu–5Fe alloys can be the promising candidate material for Cu-IUD. A highly biocompatible Cu–Fe alloy was designed and fabricated for Cu-containing intrauterine devices (Cu-IUD). With 5 wt% Fe, the burst release of Cu2+ is inhibited due to the formed galvanic cell of Cu and Fe, resulting in earlier release of Fe3+. As Fe is the most abundant essential trace element of human body, it can mitigate the toxic effects of Cu2+, thus significantly improving both in vitro cell compatibility and in vivo tissue compatibility. More importantly, the Cu–5Fe alloy exhibits 100 % contraceptive efficiency as the CG Cu, but with greatly reduced adverse effects to the uterus tissues. An advanced Cu-IUD can be developed using Cu–Fe alloys. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ferromagnetic properties of Fe, the influence of the external magnetic field on the morphology and chemical composition of electrodeposited Cu-Fe alloys was investigated. The magnetic field present affects the samples when applied in the direction parallel to their surface. However, its influence on the morphology of the coatings is slight. The surface area was analysed using Atomic Force Microscopy and determined based on the measurements of Double-Layer Capacitance. A similar trend for both methods was observed. The sample with the largest active surface area can be deposited in the parallel-to-electrode magnetic field at 250 mT and the least at 500 mT in the same direction. The catalytic properties in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction were measured in 1M NaOH. The relationship between the wettability and catalytic performance is noticeable. The evolution of hydrogen began earliest on the hydrophilic coating. All hydrophobic samples show similar catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]