Recent developments in nonferrous metals and related materials for biomedical applications in China: a review

Biomedical materials have received increasing attention in recent decades and have been used in medical applications to advance patient care, such as prosthetic implants, tissue repair and regeneration, drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical or biological therapy products, and sensitive diagnostic technologies. Among different types of biomedical materials, nonferrous metals and related materials (NMRMs) are important and attractive candidates. The updating of biomedical NMRMs and devices heavily relies on original research and application-oriented innovation. Here, we provide recent research findings and succinct insights into the developments in NMRMs for biomedical applications in China, including the use of titanium, magnesium, copper, zinc, cobalt, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, rhenium, tantalum, tungsten, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, their alloys and compounds, rare earths, high-entropy alloys, and liquid metals. Finally, the literature review concludes with several possible directions of NMRMs for new and future developments in biomedical engineering. Graphical abstract