A Short Review on the Development of Rare Earths Containing Magnesium Alloys for Biomedical Applications

Development of Mg-based degradable implants for several medical applications is an active research field in biomedical engineering. Owing to its biocompatibility, degradability, and non-toxic nature, Mg has gained tremendous attention among material engineers across the globe to use as a potential candidate for manufacturing medical implants. In spite of its promising properties, degradation control is an important area of research to tailor Mg as promising implant material. Alloying of any metal significantly alters its bulk properties and performance during the application. Several Mg alloys were developed for biomedical applications. Among them, rare earths (RE) containing Mg alloys occupy a prominent place. Different RE elements have been used to improve several properties of Mg. The objective of the current review is to present a brief summary of the developments in Mg–RE alloys targeted for biodegradable medical applications. The role of these alloying elements in enhancing the essential bulk properties required for medical applications is presented. The promising future perspectives and challenges involved in developing Mg-RE alloys for medical applications are also briefly discussed.