Biodegradable medical implants have fundamentally transformed the field of biomedical engineering by providing sustainable and biocompatible alternatives that obviate the need for secondary surgical removal and facilitate endogenous tissue regeneration. This comprehensive review systematically evaluates recent advancements in biodegradable implants utilized across a spectrum of medical applications, including internal medicine, surgical interventions, and medical devices. The developments discussed herein signify substantial progress in material synthesis, characterization, and processing techniques, effectively addressing critical challenges associated with the integration of biodegradable devices into medical implants. Although biodegradable medical implants promise advanced patient care, widespread clinical translation is hindered by inconsistent degradation rates mismatched with healing timelines, insufficient load-bearing strength, and potential inflammatory or toxic by-products. Additionally, most studies exhibit application-material imbalances, inadequate in vivo validation, and poorly controlled degradation behavior. Future efforts must clarify degradation mechanisms and treat materials as therapeutic agents. By synthesizing recent findings and highlighting critical gaps, this review provides valuable insights to guide innovation in biodegradable implant technologies, ultimately enhancing clinical outcomes and accelerating regenerative medicine's progress. Addressing these challenges is crucial for realizing their full clinical potential.
Xia et al. (2025) studied this question.