Recent advances in high-entropy alloys for biomedical applications
Luyang Lv, Chuanyao Dong, Jun Ma, Yang Zheng, Min Hu, Xiaoxi Wei
Abstract
High-entropy alloys (HEAs), a novel class of metallic materials composed of five or more principal elements in near-equiatomic ratios, have attracted growing interest in the biomedical field due to their exceptional mechanical strength, high thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and promising biocompatibility. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in the use of HEAs in anti-tumor and anti-infective therapies, focusing on their structural design, biological effects, and mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we highlight their emerging applications in skeletal implants, joint replacements, vascular scaffolds, biosensors and surgical tools. Despite significant progress, the application of HEAs in systems such as the respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems remains underexplored. By extending the design paradigm to high-entropy ceramics (HECs), we finally discuss the potential of HECs in the biomedical field, underscoring their current limitations and future prospects. Overall, this review provides insights into the structure–function relationships of HEAs in biomedicine and outlines future directions to accelerate their clinical translation.