Recent Progress on Mg- and Zn-Based Alloys for Biodegradable Vascular Stent Applications

Currently, biodegradable metals for implantation applications are widely investigated to replace biodegradable polymeric implantations, which may cause inflammatory or adverse local tissue reactions. Amongst these metals, magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) alloys with good biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance are being widely investigated. In this review, the criteria for biodegradable vascular stents, and the advantages and limitations of biodegradable Mg and Zn vascular stents, are summarized and evaluated. By summarizing and discussing recent research on Mg- and Zn-based alloys used as biodegradable vascular stents, this review considered many alloys that can potentially serve as biodegradable vascular stents and suggests future research directions for the development of Mg- and Zn-based alloys as biodegradable metal stents.