Current Status and Outlook of Low‐Melting‐Point Metals in Biomedical Applications

Abstract

In recent years, low‐melting‐point metals including liquid metals, exhibiting outstanding physical and chemical properties such as excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, high surface tension, and biocompatibility, have garnered increasing attention from researchers. The melting point of such metals profoundly influences their properties and determines their range of applications, and comprehending the characteristics and properties of low‐melting‐point metals is crucial for their future applications. Although studies related to liquid metals are growing exponentially in particular, reports exploring the properties and applications of low‐melting‐point metals from the perspective of the melting point are still in their early stages. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the key properties and relevant applications of current low‐melting‐point metals described in recent studies, focusing on gallium‐ and bismuth‐based metal alloys. In addition, this review discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with low‐melting‐point metals, and it is anticipated that this review will contribute to the advancement of low‐melting‐point materials in the fields of flexible electronics and biomedicine, particularly for biomedical applications.

Ga‐Based Liquid Metals: Versatile and Biocompatible Solutions for Next‐Generation Bioelectronics

“…Although small amounts of In are known to be harmless to humans, Sn compounds absorbed into the human body can induce abdominal pain, liver and kidney abnormalities to skin and ocular convulsions, respiratory difficulties, and neurological disorders may occur in severe cases. [37] The physicochemical properties of these Ga-based LMs are summarized in Tables 2 and 3. In the next section, we delve deeper into the properties of Ga-based LMs for bioelectronics.…”

Microenvironment-responsive release of Mg2+ from tannic acid decorated and multilevel crosslinked hydrogels accelerates infected wound healing

“…Injectable self-adaptive hydrogels, known for their responsiveness to stimuli, are capable of adapting intelligently to changes in the wound's microenvironment, including temperature, pH, and humidity. 7 The functional properties of injectability and self-healing are realized through reversible physical noncovalent interactions and chemical covalent a National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# bonding mechanisms such as a Schiff base, a boronic acid-diol complex, disulfide bonds, and metal-ligand coordination. Among these, the methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel is noted for its superior biocompatibility and versatility, which encompass mechanical, swelling, degradation, and biological characteristics, with a notable capacity to carry bioactive substances.…”

“…TA can form stable complexes with various metal ions such as Mn 2+ , Fe 3+ , and Cu 2+ , enhancing its structural stability and regulating the microenvironment to increase its effectiveness. 4,7 Thus the smart hydrogel now possesses the capability of modifying its own structure, responding to the release of functional substances, and adapting to changes in the microenvironment of the infected wound.…”