Invited Talk: Engineering Nanostructured Interface for Next-Generation Biodegradable Implants

A novel class of biodegradable metal, i.e. magnesium (Mg) alloys, has attracted growing interest as a promising alternative for next-generation biodegradable medical implants due to their advantageous mechanical and physiological properties. The implants/devices made from magnesium alloys can have the desirable modulus and mechanical strength to prevent breakage during implantation and to provide good initial fixation. Controlling the interface of magnesium with the biological environment is the key challenge that currently limits this biodegradable metal for broad applications in medical devices and implants. This talk will particularly focus on how to create a nanostructured interface between the biodegradable metallic implant and surrounding tissue for the dual purposes of (1) enhancing tissue integration and regeneration and (2) simultaneously mediating the degradation of the metallic implant.