The Prospects of Zinc as a Structural Material for Biodegradable Implants—A Review Paper

TLDR

Iron and magnesium have been widely studied as biodegradable metals, but their clinical limitations have prompted interest in zinc, whose corrosion product Zn²⁺ is biologically regulated and may inhibit restenosis while promoting bone growth, yet pure zinc’s low strength and ductility hinder its use as a structural implant. The paper aims to develop high‑strength, ductile zinc alloys that maintain biocompatibility. It reviews and compares the biocompatibility, corrosion behavior, and mechanical properties of pure zinc and current zinc alloys.

Abstract

In the last decade, iron and magnesium, both pure and alloyed, have been extensively studied as potential biodegradable metals for medical applications. However, broad experience with these material systems has uncovered critical limitations in terms of their suitability for clinical applications. Recently, zinc and zinc-based alloys have been proposed as new additions to the list of degradable metals and as promising alternatives to magnesium and iron. The main byproduct of zinc metal corrosion, Zn2+, is highly regulated within physiological systems and plays a critical role in numerous fundamental cellular processes. Zn2+ released from an implant may suppress harmful smooth muscle cells and restenosis in arteries, while stimulating beneficial osteogenesis in bone. An important limitation of pure zinc as a potential biodegradable structural support, however, lies in its low strength (σUTS ~ 30 MPa) and plasticity (ε < 0.25%) that are insufficient for most medical device applications. Developing high strength and ductility zinc with sufficient hardness, while retaining its biocompatibility, is one of the main goals of metallurgical engineering. This paper will review and compare the biocompatibility, corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of pure zinc, as well as currently researched zinc alloys.