Corrosion (N/A)

Corrosion is a spontaneous physicochemical process involving the gradual deterioration of materials, typically metals, due to chemical or electrochemical reactions with their environment [2, 4]. In the field of biotechnology and medicine, it is primarily discussed in the context of the degradation of metallic implants, such as joint replacements, dental screws, and cardiovascular stents, within the physiological environment [3, 6, 14]. This degradation process leads to the release of potentially toxic metal ions (e.g., cobalt, chromium, nickel) and wear debris into surrounding tissues, which can trigger adverse biological effects including chronic inflammation, tissue death, and systemic metallosis [2, 3, 13]. While several pharmacological agents and organic molecules have been investigated for their ability to act as anti-corrosive inhibitors on metal surfaces, 'Corrosion' itself is a process rather than a biological molecule, receptor, or enzyme [4, 11, 24]. Consequently, it is not a valid therapeutic target in the context of drug discovery and is considered an incorrect term for a molecular target [1, 9].

Other names

BiocorrosionMicrobial corrosionMicrobiologically influenced corrosionMICRustingBio-corrosionPitting corrosion

Corrosion is a chemical or electrochemical process, not a biological target; however, substances used to mitigate it (corrosion inhibitors) typically function by adsorbing onto the surface of a material to create a protective barrier or passive film that prevents reaction with the environment.