Riboflavin facilitates microbial corrosion of NiTi alloy by human intestinal microbiota.

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys are key in making medical implants due to their mechanical properties and biocompatibility, yet suffer from microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). This study isolated three samples of intestinal microbiotas from patient's stents to investigate their corrosion behavior on NiTi alloy. Using metagenomic analysis, corrosion electrochemistry, and morphology characterization, we found that different microbiota samples formed biofilms on NiTi alloy, causing varying degrees of pitting corrosion. The corrosion was linked to riboflavin-mediated MIC, with differences in riboflavin synthesis genes affecting corrosion rates. This research offers new insights into the MIC of NiTi alloys and helps develop more corrosion resistant materials. • Human intestinal microbiota significantly accelerates MIC of NiTi alloy. • Different human intestinal microbiota samples lead to distinct patterns of pitting corrosion and varying corrosion rates. • Riboflavin is identified as a facilitator of MIC by intestinal microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]