Feasibility, challenges and future prospects of biodegradable zinc alloys as orthopedic internal fixation implants

Abstract

Compared to biodegradable Mg-based and Fe-based alloys, Zn-based alloys offer distinct advantages as orthopedic internal fixation implants due to their tunable mechanical strength, moderate corrosion rate, pleasant cytocompatibility, dose-dependent osteoinductivity, intrinsic bacteriostatic activity. Therefore, recent attention has been paid on the design, fabrication, and clinical translation of Zn-based alloys. The purpose of this research was to briefly discuss the feasibility, challenges, and future prospects of utilizing biodegradable Zn-based alloys as orthopedic internal fixation implants.