Bioresorbable Electronic Implants: History, Materials, Fabrication, Devices, and Clinical Applications

Medical implants, either passive implants for structural support or implantable devices with active electronics, have been widely used for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and clinical issues. These implants offer various functions, including mechanical support of biological structures in orthopedic and dental applications, continuous electrophysiological monitoring and feedback of electrical stimulation in neuronal and cardiac applications, and controlled drug delivery while maintaining arterial structure in drug-eluting stents. Although these implants exhibit long-term biocompatibility, surgery for their retrieval is often required, which imposes physical, biological, and economical burdens on the patients. Therefore, as an alternative to such secondary surgeries, bioresorbable implants that disappear after a certain period of time inside the body, including bioresorbabl…