Nutrient alloying elements in biodegradable metals: a review

As a new generation of biomedical metallic materials, biodegradable metals have become a hot research topic in recent years because they can completely degrade in the human body, thus preventing secondary surgery, and reducing the pain and economic burden for patients. Clinical applications require biodegradable metals with adequate mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. Alloying is an important method to create biodegradable metals with required and comprehensive performances. Since nutrient elements already have important effects on various physiological functions of the human body, the alloying of nutrient elements with biodegradable metals has attracted much attention. The present review summarizes and discusses the effects of nutrient alloying elements on the mechanical properties, biodegradation behavior, and biocompatibility of biodegradable metals. Moreover, future research directions of biodegradable metals with nutrient alloying elements are suggested.