An overview of the recent developments in biodegradable Mg-Zn alloy

• Critical review of Mg-Zn alloy for biomedical application. • Mg-(4.0–5.0) wt.% Zn alloy showed the highest strength and the lowest corrosion rate. • Achieved strength and corrosion rate still does not meet the desired requirement. • Corrosion can be further lower by thermomechanical and composite coating process. • More elucidation of biological response including in vitro and in vivo studies. The increasing interest in Mg-Zn binary alloys as temporary implant materials is attributed to their outstanding biocompatibility, biodegradability, and favourable mechanical properties. However, their application is constrained by high degradation rates in the physiological environment, resulting in the release of hydrogen gas and a rapid decline in mechanical properties. Additionally, the material's biocompatibility is contingent upon its degradability. Researchers have demonstrated that addressing these issues is possible through strategies such as controlling Zn content, employing thermo-mechanical processing to achieve suitable microstructures, and applying surface coatings. This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of published literature on Mg-Zn alloys, exploring the challenges and outlining future research directions in this field.