Biodegradable and Biobased Metallic Materials: Design, Processing, Applications

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1709

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Latino-Americano de Ciências da Vida e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Foz do Iguaçu 85870-650, PR, Brazil
Interests: Ti alloys; coatings; heat treatment; mechanical properties; elastic modulus

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Engineering, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Interests: titanium alloys; biomedical applications; surface treatment; mechanical and electrochemical properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue entitled Biodegradable and Biobased Metallic Materials: Design, Processing, Applications”

Biodegradable metallic materials have emerged as one of the most promising frontiers in biomaterials science, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional permanent implants. Among these, magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) alloys stand out for their unique combination of biocompatibility, biofunctionality, and controlled degradability, which allows their gradual resorption in the human body after fulfilling their temporary mechanical function. This characteristic significantly reduces clinical complications and eliminates the need for secondary surgeries to remove implants, contributing to faster recovery and improved patient outcomes.

Aim and Scope

This Special Issue aims to gather recent advances in the design, processing, and application of next-generation biodegradable and biobased metallic materials, particularly focusing on Mg- and Zn-based systems. The issue will cover topics ranging from alloy development and fabrication techniques—including melt casting, powder metallurgy, severe plastic deformation, and additive manufacturing—to studies addressing microstructural control, morphology, corrosion behavior, and surface modification strategies such as micro-arc oxidation, sol–gel coatings, and biofunctionalization with calcium phosphates, polymers, or bioactive molecules.

Furthermore, special attention will be given to bio-based alloying elements and environmentally friendly processing routes, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable and circular approaches in materials science. This Special Issue is fully aligned with the journal’s scope, bridging materials engineering, surface science, and biomedical applications to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.

Topics of Interest

Original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Design and development of Mg- and Zn-based biodegradable alloys
  • Processing routes and microstructure–property relationships
  • Morphological control and degradation mechanisms
  • Surface coatings, functionalization, and corrosion protection
  • Bioactivity, cytocompatibility, and in vitro/in vivo performance
  • Eco-friendly and bio-based alloying or processing methods
  • Applications in orthopedic, cardiovascular, and tissue engineering devices

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue and to advancing the field of biobased and biodegradable metals for next-generation biomedical and sustainable applications.

Dr. Pedro Akira Bazaglia Kuroda
Dr. Mariana Correa Rossi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodegradable metals
  • Mg alloys
  • Zn alloys
  • alloy design
  • production methods
  • morphology
  • surface coatings
  • functionalization
  • biocompatibility
  • corrosion control
  • biomedical implants

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 4617 KB  
Article
Development and Characteristics of New Biobased Magnesium Composites
by Apoorva Gautam, Michael Johanes and Manoj Gupta
Metals 2026, 16(3), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16030293 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 591
Abstract
The integration of sustainable and natural waste-derived materials into lightweight metals presents a promising strategy with both environmental and performance-related benefits. In this study, a biobased magnesium composite reinforced with dried leaf powder (DLP) derived from fallen waste leaves was synthesized using a [...] Read more.
The integration of sustainable and natural waste-derived materials into lightweight metals presents a promising strategy with both environmental and performance-related benefits. In this study, a biobased magnesium composite reinforced with dried leaf powder (DLP) derived from fallen waste leaves was synthesized using a controlled powder metallurgy method incorporating energy efficient hybrid microwave sintering, followed by hot extrusion at varying temperatures (350 °C, 250 °C, 150 °C). Microstructural analysis revealed that the addition of DLP had minimal effect on the overall grain morphology, while lower extrusion temperatures promoted finer grains due to restricted grain growth. Mg–5DLP composites consistently exhibited higher porosity than pure Mg, primarily due to the evaporation of organic constituents during sintering. The damping performance of the biomass-containing materials was improved (54.5% increase), particularly at lower extrusion temperatures (250 °C), though mechanical performance showed a trade-off with reduced hardness and compressive strength. A slight increase in yield strength at lower extrusion temperatures was attributed to retained dislocation density and grain refinement. Thermal stability remained largely unaffected, while corrosion behavior was strongly dependent on both DLP addition and extrusion temperature, with Mg–5DLP samples corroding faster than pure Mg when extruded at higher temperatures; interestingly, however, at the lowest extrusion temperature (150 °C), improved corrosion resistance to pure Mg (1.3 mm/year for Mg-5DLP vs. 2.0 mm/year for pure Mg) was observed. Overall, this work demonstrates that extrusion temperature is a critical factor in controlling the microstructure, thermal response, damping response, mechanical behavior and corrosion of biobased composites. The study not only highlights the potential of using direct biomass reinforcement of magnesium to synthesize lightweight, ecofriendly materials, but also lays a strong foundation for future investigations into biobased composite design, processing optimization, and property tailoring. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 3093 KB  
Article
Different Effects of Varying Cryogenic Temperatures on Different Properties of a Biocompatible Mg-10Se Alloy
by Jiaqi Chen, Michael Johanes and Manoj Gupta
Metals 2026, 16(2), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16020181 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 829
Abstract
Mg has high potential as a base metal for biocompatible metallic implants due to its light weight, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties that are similar to bone. In the present study, Mg-10Se was synthesized via a powder metallurgy method followed by cryogenic treatment (CT). [...] Read more.
Mg has high potential as a base metal for biocompatible metallic implants due to its light weight, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties that are similar to bone. In the present study, Mg-10Se was synthesized via a powder metallurgy method followed by cryogenic treatment (CT). It was found that cryogenic exposure to −20 °C (RF20) resulted in the best combination of damping properties (38.5% and 12.1% gains in attenuation coefficient and damping capacity, respectively) and compressive yield strength (16.7%), while liquid nitrogen (LN) treatment (−196 °C) resulted in the best ultimate compressive strength (10% increase to 260 MPa), energy absorbed during compressive testing (17.5% increase to 40 MJ/m3), and optimal corrosion rate (reduction of 59.7% to 0.273 mm/year). This study clearly highlights the role and importance of not just compositional control in improving properties but that of cryogenic treatment temperature to selectively enhance the individual properties of metallic materials to best meet end application requirements. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop