Improved mechanical, degradation, and biological performances of Zn–Fe alloys as bioresorbable implants

Zinc (Zn) is a promising bioresorbable implant material with more moderate degradation rate compared to magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe). However, the low mechanical strength and localized degradation behavior of pure Zn limit its clinical applications. Alloying is one of the most effective ways to overcome these limitations. After screening the alloying element candidates regarding their potentials for improvement on the degradation and biocompatibility, we proposed Fe as the alloying element for Zn, and investigated the in vitro and in vivo performances of these alloys in both subcutaneous and femoral tissues. Results showed that the uniformly distributed secondary phase in Zn–Fe alloys significantly improved the mechanical property and facilitated uniform degradation, which thus enhanced their biocompatibility, especially the Zn-0.4Fe alloy. Moreover, these Zn–Fe alloys showed outstanding antibacterial property. Taken together, Zn–Fe alloys could be promising candidates as bioresorbable medical implants for various cardiovascular, wound closure, and orthopedic applications.