Magnesium-Based Temporary Implants: Potential, Current Status, Applications, and Challenges

J Funct Biomater. 2023 Jun 17;14(6):324. doi: 10.3390/jfb14060324.

Abstract

Biomedical implants are important devices used for the repair or replacement of damaged or diseased tissues or organs. The success of implantation depends on various factors, such as mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of the materials used. Recently, magnesium (Mg)-based materials have emerged as a promising class of temporary implants due to their remarkable properties, such as strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current research works summarizing the above-mentioned properties of Mg-based materials for use as temporary implants. The key findings from in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical trials are also discussed. Further, the potential applications of Mg-based implants and the applicable fabrication methods are also reviewed.

Keywords: applications; biocompatible; biodegradable; clinical trials; commercial implants; degradation behavior; implants; magnesium alloys.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

We confirm that no funding was sought to conduct this review.