Director/Startup & Acceleration Center
Executive Director/Medical Device Innovation Center Professor/Department of Biomedical Engineering
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Title: Processing and Applications of Degradable Metal in Biomedicine
Abstract
Degradable metals, including magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe)-based alloys, have attracted significant attention in biomedical fields due to their excellent biocompatibility and inherent biodegradability. Magnesium and its alloys have been regarded as prospective bone implants, in addition to being completely degradable in vivo to avoid the risk of infection from secondary surgery, in terms of material mechanics, the elastic modulus is closer to natural bone than the medical metal materials used today (stainless steel, titanium alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy), which can avoid the stress masking effect that cannot stimulate the growth and remodeling of new bone, and its excellent biocompatibility and the characteristics of promoting cell migration to facilitate healing. It also increases the attractiveness of biodegradable metals such as magnesium alloys for clinical applications. However, magnesium alloys corrode rapidly in physiological environments with high concentrations of chloride ions, resulting in a loss of mechanical integrity before the tissue has fully healed. In addition, if the hydrogen is released too quickly during the degradation process, the host tissue will also be adversely affected. How to slow down the degradation rate of magnesium alloys is a major challenge. This report will introduce how to delay the degradation rate by using alloy technology, heat treatment, surface treatment, etc., from the perspective of materials science, and discuss their possible clinical applications. Expect the research can advance the clinical translation of degradable metal implants for personalized and effective biomedical applications.
Short biography:
Ming-Long Yeh is a researcher and expert in the field of biomechanics and tissue engineering. With a comprehensive background in materials science and biomedical engineering.
The primary research area in cartilage and vascular tissue engineering, where he has focused on developing innovative strategies to regenerate damaged tissues. The other main research focus is the use of degradable metal implants. His research in this domain seeks to enhance the performance and safety of implants used in orthopedic and cardiovascular surgeries, with a focus on biocompatibility and degradability, thereby mitigating long-term complications and improving patient outcomes.
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