Thin film metallic glasses for bioimplants and surgical tools: A review

Amorphous thin film metallic glasses (TFMGs) have given rise to a widespread research interest due to their technological promise for practical applications and scientific importance in the biomedical field. As a result of their disordered atomic structure (leading to amorphicity), these TFMGs symbolize a new class of structural and functional materials with extraordinary properties, including exciting strength along with superior mechanical properties and biological properties. TFMG top-coats have the potential to improve the strength, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and life span of potential biomaterials (metallic, ceramics, or polymers). This article reviews the mechanical properties and biological behavior of TFMGs as well as the current progress in Zr-based, Ti-based, Fe-based, and Mg-based TFMGs for biomedical applications.