11. Biodegradable Metallic Materials: Recent Advances, Futuristic Opportunities, and Challenges

The potential of biodegradable metals and their alloys for use in biomedical applications has drawn a lot of attention. The most common biodegradable materials are iron, magnesium, and zinc, which have led to a great deal of research into the creation of new alloys. These metals are appropriate for implant use because of their remarkable mechanical integrity, adequate biocompatibility, and intrinsic biodegradability. The recent developments in biodegradable implants in the biomedical field are examined in this chapter, concentrating mostly on orthopaedic and cardiovascular applications. The mechanical characteristics, corrosion mechanism, and degrading behaviour of these materials, both in vitro and in vivo, are thoroughly studied. Their extensive use has been hampered by various constraints related to alloying materials, particularly iron and zinc. So, how crucial it is to overcome these obstacles in order to fully utilize these materials.