Also: bioabsorbable stents, zinc, iron
Zinc and iron, like magnesium, can slowly corrode away in the body, and are studied for temporary stents and implants.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Zheng, Gu, and Witte reviewed magnesium, iron, and zinc as metals designed to degrade safely in the body.
As reported in: Zheng, Gu, Witte (2014). Biodegradable metals. Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports. doi:10.1016/j.mser.2014.01.001
Abstract only
Bowen and colleagues found zinc wires implanted in rat arteries corroded at a rate well suited to dissolving stents.
Built / tested: bioabsorbable stents
As reported in: Bowen, Drelich, Goldman (2013). Zinc Exhibits Ideal Physiological Corrosion Behavior for Bioabsorbable Stents. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.201300226
Abstract only