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LPBF Prints Zinc–Silver–Copper Alloys For Biodegradable Implants

Researchers used laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to 3D‑print zinc‑silver‑copper alloys and demonstrated in‑vitro cytocompatibility, indicating the material could serve as a biodegradable implant. Zinc offers a middle‑ground degradation rate between magnesium and iron, while silver and copper add antimicrobial and strengthening effects. The study shows that, despite zinc’s low boiling point, a controlled LPBF process can avoid excessive vaporization and produce alloys that meet standard cell‑viability thresholds. These findings pave the way for patient‑specific, resorbable hardware pending further mechanical and in‑vivo validation.