Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys as Promising Materials for Medical Applications (Review)

Non-degradable steel and titanium implants used to replace defects of the locomotor system or fabricate vascular stents provide maximum stability but have too many drawbacks. Currently, biodegradable magnesium alloys are considered as promising materials for creation of fixation devices in orthopedics and cardiovascular surgery. First attempts of using magnesium-based implants for bone fixation were made as early as at the beginning of the 20 th century, however, due to a high corrosion rate and gas formation they turned out to be unsuccessful. Magnesium-based alloys developed recently demonstrate improved anti-corrosion and mechanical properties and are promising for manufacturing of biodegradable, biocompatible metal implants.