Selection of Bio-implant Materials Based on Metal Additive Manufacturing using Integrated SWARA and WASPAS MCDM Technique

Healthcare has undergone a revolution due to bio-implants, which provide treatment for many fields of medicine. This paper aims to offer an assessment of the materials frequently used in bio-implant applications to support informed decision-making for better patient outcomes. The present study mainly focused on metal materials used as for bio-implant applications. This study proposes a framework for selecting the best material among different metallic materials for bio-implant applications that can be fabricated by metal additive manufacturing. Based on literature reviews and expert discussions, 19 factors were identified as important when selecting bio-implants. An integrated hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method, i.e., “step-by-step weight assessment ratio assessment” (SWARA) and “weighted aggregated sum product assessment” (WASPAS), is used to rank and select the most appropriate material for the bio-implant applications. The study identified titanium-based alloys as the best alternative among six metal materials, followed by cobalt-based alloys and stainless steel. The research outcomes give guidelines to researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals about the material selection criteria and ranking of the best materials for bio-implant applications.