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Magnesium-based implants have the potential to serve as biocompatible, osteoconductive, and biodegradable implants for load-bearing applications of bone tissue. These implants would be temporarily needed to provide mechanical support during the healing process of injured or pathological tissue. Moreover, the metallic implants, such as pins, screws, and plates for repairing the defects, have to be removed by a second surgery after the bone tissue was healed. Since, the repeated surgery will increases the morbidity and health costs, then, the use of biodegradable metallic implants with a good biocompatibility is expected to overcome the limitations of conventional metallic biomaterials and remove the second surgery. In spite of the immense potential of biodegradable magnesium alloys, the fast biodegradation rates of magnesium-based implants in the physiological environments impose severe limitations in many clinical applications. Recently, some researches have been done to slow down the biodegradation rate of magnesium alloys. Besides improving the biodegradation rate of magnesium alloys, the biocompatibility should also be considered. This up-to-date review critically summarizes the important recent progresses for controlling the biodegradation rate of magnesium alloys and also mentions to future research trends.

 magnesium alloys, biodegradation, biocorrosion, cell culture, bone tissue engineering.